SHANXI, Jan. 23 -- A charity activity by Shaanxi Provincial Women's Federation to help female migrant workers return home started on Wednesday by assisting 11 women to go back to Sichuan province.

Shan Hong, vice-president of the federation, said the group announced in December in local newspapers that female migrant workers who had not returned home for Spring Festival for two years because of financial difficulties could sign up for help. Seventy-eight women working in Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi province, applied for support from the charity.

The Xi'an Railway Station provided free tickets for the workers and Shaanxi Dacheng Power Technology Co provided gifts for their families.

On Wednesday, 11 female migrant workers who hadn't been home for more than two years traveled to their homes in Sichuan province and the other women will return home for the coming Spring Festival over the following days.