A reading program jointly launched by the Hong Kongand Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and the China Children and Teenagers’ Fund (CCTF) has donated 1.32 million yuan (US$211,572) to help rural children read more books.

More than 100,000 books, including 90,000 donated by HSBC and 13,000 by its staff members, have reached rural primary schools, schools for migrant children and children’s activity centers in 36 cities across China since the new semester started in September.

 

Staff members of the HSBC Shanghai Headquarters visited students in BeiganshanPrimary SchoolinShanghai's Songjiang District on September 7, 2012, bringing with them over 4,000 books. [ShanghaiFinancial News]

 

Staff members of the HSBC Qingdao Branch visited students inWudisiluPrimary SchoolinQingdao, eastChina’sShandongProvince, on September 7, 2012, bringing with them over 2,650 books. [qingdaonews.com]

Staff members of theHSBC Beijing Branchvisited students inBowenSchoolinBeijing’s Chaoyang District on September 7, 2012, bringing with them over 1,000 books, desks, chairs and computers.The same activity was held in schools in eastChina’sShanghaiMunicipality,ChangshaCityin centralChina’sHunanProvinceandQingdaoCityin eastChina’sShandongProvince.

Aside from donating books and equipment to create school libraries, the program also trained teachers on library management and how to organize reading activities. It is estimated that about 50,000 rural students and teachers will benefit from the reading program.

(Source: cctf.org.cn / Translated by womenofchina.cn)