Our Story (Old)
A108
Origin
In 1994, a group of volunteers participated in helping after a devastating flood in southern China. Upon discovering the poor living conditions in the surrounding area, the volunteers established a school in Guangxi province in an effort to raise local standards of living.
Later Development
Over ten years spanning from 1994 to 2004, thanks to the generous support of individuals and organizations, our volunteers helped establish almost 400 schools in remote areas of Guangxi, Yunnan, Jiangxi, Shaanxi and Guizhou provinces.
Starting from 1997, focus has been on Guizhou, China's poorest province, helping to establish schools and subsidizing financially struggling students.
In order to work more effectively, Grace Charity Ltd. was founded by our volunteers in June 2000. (Tax Free File No. 91/6177)
Introduction of Grace Charity
Why focus on Guizhou?
A study in 1996 found Guizhou to be especially stricken by poverty and few charities worked there. The educational programs in the mountainous areas were found to be outdated, children not attending school were many, and poverty was widespread. Our organization decided to concentrate our resources on improving the education for children in Guizhou.
After years of hard work, we continued to request for other organizations in Hong Kong to work in Guizhou. A portion of the education facilities were improved and some students who could not originally attend school are now able to. However, the environment in Guizhou is difficult to live in and the education of the poorer regions are still backward. Through us and other cooperating charities, three hundred new facilities were built in Guizhou. Yet the number of facilities needed in the province are still many. Hence, our organization has decided to focus on Guizhou for the time being.
From 2000 up to first quarter of 2014, our organization has supported a total of:
- Subsidizing building of schools and dormitories - over 1,262
- Subsidizing building of medical stations and clinics - 272
- Students attending Senior Secondary Schools including those with continued aid - 20,301
- Students attending Teacher institutes - 6,464
- Students attending Tertiary Education institutions including those with continued aid throughout their college years - 5,123
- Students of Orphanage and in special hardship - 9,371
- Teachers in special hardship - 1,668
- Elderly living alone - 13 elderly home; 129 individuals
- Primary and Junior Secondary Students in Poverty - 16,729 (This item had terminated in 2007)
- Schools receiving books to enrich the content of their libraries - 1,468
- Community libraries - 19
- Water cellars - 2,790
- Water supply projects - 4