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'Programme of Happiness' Benefits Poor Mothers
The Programme of Happiness, a nationwide project to help impoverished mothers, as of May has raised 106.27 million yuan (US$12.8 million), according to the latest statistics.
In the past five years since 1995 when the programme started, 70,000 impoverished mothers from 345 counties in 27 provinces and autonomous regions have received small amounts of credit from the programme.
"Though 1,000 to 3,000 yuan (US$120 to US$361) is not much for many people, it can help a poor mother out of poverty, illness and ignorance," said Vice-Chairman of China Population Welfare Foundation Wu Jingchun at a donation ceremony yesterday.
In just one week's time from May 8 to 15, nearly 200,000 civil servants from various government departments donated 2.85 million yuan (US$343,000) to help poor mothers in the western regions.
This year, the programme committee plans to allocate 20 million yuan (US$2.4 million), including materials worth 4 million yuan (US$481,000), to western regions such as Gansu, Guizhou, Sichuan and Yunnan province as well as Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
"We aim to help 10,000 poor mothers and their families out of poverty," Wu added.
The Programme of Happiness is a social welfare activity initiated and carried out by China Population Welfare Foundation and China Family Planning Association since 1995, when China had nearly 20 million impoverished mothers.
Through raising funds at home and abroad, the programme provides credit, training classes and health care to poor mothers.
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