The China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA)
said Wednesday it received donations worth 196 million yuan in
2006, 7.7 percent better than 2005.
CFPA used 175 million yuan in funds and goods, up 30
percent on 2005, to help 533,600 poor people in 279 counties, said
He Daofeng, executive vice president of CFPA.
The donations coming from domestic and international
firms and individuals also benefited destitute college students at
452 universities, He said.
Several institutions including China Construction Bank
were hailed by the foundation for their significant contributions
to China's anti-poverty campaign.
CFPA is a major non-governmental poverty reduction
organization in China.
The China Development Bank (CDB) agreed last year to
donate 100 million yuan (US$12.8 million) worth of loans to a CFPA
micro-credit scheme in China's rural areas.
The CFPA has already established micro-credit branches
in 10 poverty-stricken counties across seven provinces which have
collectively handled 150 million yuan of loans. Over 330,000
farmers have benefited from this program since 1996.
(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2007)
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