Ping An invests $1.4m to aid poor children

A major Chinese insurance company has launched an online educational site to help schools in poor areas of the country.

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Ltd has backed a move by the central government for corporations to help alleviate poverty through education.

"The site, which has online classes, an online library and remote education aids, was launched on June 1, International Children's Day," said Sheng Ruisheng, secretary-general of Ping An Educational Welfare Council, which is part of the main group.

Online poetry and history classes are also on the site as well as a daily webcast.

"We have invested 10 million yuan on the platform, which provides remote support to the 114 Ping An Hope primary schools we have sponsored across the country," he said.

The company rolled out a "Ping An Public Welfare Day" on May 27 when staff members were encouraged to get involved in good causes such as helping the poor.

Ping An was established on May 27, 1988 and became the first insurance company in China to adopt a shareholding structure.

Listed in Hong Kong and Shanghai, the group has developed personal financial services as part of its three core businesses - insurance, banking and investment.

Since 1994, Ping An has built 114 Hope primary schools in 30 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions.

This has helped 300,000 children in remote rural areas realize their dreams of attending school easier.

The insurance group also repair school buildings, set up network audio-visual classrooms, donate books and water purification equipment.

"Ping An has always thought about how to improve educational welfare in order to bridge the gap between rural and urban areas," said Ma Mingzhe, chairman and chief executive officer of Ping An.

"The power of education can help eradicate poverty in rural areas," Ma added.

The group has spent about 30 million yuan in fighting poverty, disaster relief and protecting the environment.

"In addition to investing large amounts of money on infrastructure at rural schools, we have also helped with teaching staff and curriculum resources," Sheng said.

Since 2007, the Ping An Education Aiding Action program has organized volunteers to attend Hope primary schools. They have taught students music, painting, sports, English and cultural subjects.

More than 5,000 people have joined the program, spending a total of 220,000 hours helping 100,000 students.

The company has also set up scholarships for outstanding children and organized professional and psychological training for teachers.

mengfanbin@chinadaily.com.cn