The rural children early education project "Hand In Hand", financed by Nokia (China) Investment Co., Ltd., implemented by Plan International and supported by the China Youth Social Education Foundation, has started in the Kongtong District, Pingliang City, Gansu Province.
Hand In Hand is a long term project with an investment of CNY60 million, which is the largest donation from non-governmental sector for rural the early care and preschool education of rural children. The project aims to provide good care and education for rural children under the age of six; adopting a sustainable and rounded education model to offer the best education and to create opportunities for the future success of rural children.
The project will last for three years and is divided into two phases. In the first phase the project will cover six counties in Gansu, Shaanxi and Henan and will finish in September 2009; and then the second phase of the project will expand to 16 counties. When the project is finished it is expected that more than 1,000 early child education centers will be built and over 700,00 rural children will benefit.
Fu Lei corporate social responsibility director for Nokia China said that Nokia is delighted to cooperate with Plan International on this initiative, and is also grateful to China Youth Social Education for their support and guidance. He added that Nokia hoped that it could work with the relevant departments to promote this project to contribute to the modernization of China's rural education. Nokia also expects that 'Hand In Hand' will be a new milestone for Nokia fulfilling CSR in China.
Plan International is an international development agency working with and for children in 49 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas.
