Beijing exhibition highlights creativity of grassroots NGOs

Once a fortnight in a small village near the city of Chifeng in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, local women get together to read the latest book donated by the staff of a micro-credit project.

"The idea is to give books to the women when we collect their loan repayments," Huo Guilin, director of the Zhaowuda Women's Sustainable Development Association, told China Daily yesterday.

Over the past 10 years, the NGO has handed out about 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) in loans to the women of Chifeng. More recently, it began giving out free books on agricultural technology, health and education.