More than 400 Chinese university students from impoverished families received funds from a charity program on Sunday to set up their own projects to provide public services.

The program, jointly funded by the China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF) and the World Bank, awarded 10,000 yuan (US$1,460) to each of the 44 teams of students from 28 universities in Beijing.

Gu Xiaojin, executive vice chair of CYDF, said at the award ceremony that this move was intended to help the students improve their work skills and sense of social responsibility.

"We learned that students welcome opportunities that can help them gain practical work skills, such as the internships provided by companies like fast-food chain KFC and skin care giant L'Oreal," Gu said.

Previously, the program directly gave the students money to cover their tuition or living expenses.

The program would, in the future, set up scholarships and develop work opportunities for students to make an independent living, Gu said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 28, 2009)