IN BRIEF (Page 8)

Philanthropic program

A philanthropy program was launched in mid-May to fund volunteer organizations that offer reputable welfare programs.

The program will focus on post-earthquake reconstruction and be available to 50 welfare projects initiated by voluntary organizations, with each of them expected to receive between 5,000 yuan and 50,000 yuan.

The program was jointly organized by Sichuan Provincial Communist Youth League, Sichuan Provincial Civilization Office, Sichuan Provincial Civil Affairs Department, China Youth Daily, 21st Century News Group, Huaxi Newspaper and Sohu.

Quake aid report

UNICEF recently released a report on the aid it has offered to earthquake-hit areas of China over the past year.

The report detailed UNICEF's cooperation with the Chinese government in helping these areas by providing education, sanitation, nutrition, clean water, environmental aid, mental support, child protection, HIV/AIDS prevention, and social policies for children following the May 12 earthquake.

The report said that UNICEF has provided emergency materials worth about $20 million to the areas, as well as materials and services required for post-earthquake reconstruction. It has so far implemented aid programs in 29 districts and counties in Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces, benefiting around 2.5 million children and 4 million women.

Artistic inspiration

Swire Properties has launched a cross-region youth program in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong aiming to encourage high school students in the three cities to create photographic and poetic art pieces on the theme of architecture.

The program involves nearly 50 schools and more than 200 participants in the three cities. A series of workshops and a forum conducted by professional photographers, poets, scholars and artists have been organized to promote the program.

Charitable donations

China's insurance companies donated 700 million yuan to charity last year, according to a report released by the Insurance Association of China.

The report said that 71 percent of the donations, or 500 million yuan, were related to the disastrous snowstorms early in the year and the May 12 earthquake, with the remainder mainly used to help improve education in poverty-stricken areas. Meanwhile, more insurance companies set up special charity funds.

(China Daily 06/01/2009 page8)