Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

THE 10th China Charity Fair, which wrapped up at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center in Futian District yesterday, is estimated to have raised at least 7.9 billion yuan (US$1.08 billion) in funding for donation projects, purchases of products from impoverished areas, and industrial investment.

The three-day fair attracted over 5,800 institutions, projects and products from across the country and overseas.

The fair had a record high number of exhibitors, whose exhibition area was a 30% increase over the previous year. Over 280,000 online and offline visits were recorded, according to the organizers.

For the first time the fair included 10 subvenues in communities across the city, providing a new experience for nearly 2,000 visitors to learn about community charity.

How can children in underdeveloped rural areas develop better? The China Development Research Foundation (CDRF) showcased its Comprehensive Demonstration Zone for Rural Children’s Development project at the fair.

Launched in Bijie City, Guizhou Province, in September 2021, the project provides intervention services in nutrition, health, education, and other aspects of human development for children aged 0-18 in rural areas.

Childhood interventions can take many forms.

“For example, how to control salt and have a more nutritious meal, and then there are information technology projects that use some technological means to help children have better information technology courses,” said Zhang Xiaoshan, project director of CDRF’s children’s development research institute.

According to Zhang, it was the first time for CDRF to participate in the charity fair, which helped fulfill an organizational desire to have more communication with other charitable institutions.

“This is a great opportunity. I hope the project can be promoted nationwide in the future,” she said.

At the “Science and Technology for Good” exhibition area, multiple companies showcased technological applications in charitable causes such as ecological protection and rural education.

“As a high-tech enterprise, we hope to bring our technological innovations and applications to the charity sector,” said Liu Lei, secretary general of TCL Public Welfare Foundation.

As a national level event permanently settled in Shenzhen, the charity fair has attracted more than 10,000 institutions to participate since its inception in 2012 and facilitated the match of over 2,600 projects worth over 70 billion yuan.

This year’s fair also responded to the Belt and Road Initiative and actively promoted international exchanges and cooperation in the field of charity, according to the organizers.