Children's welfare foundation established
Shanghai Vice Mayor Peng Chenlei (right) and Zhao Zhuping, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai government, unveil the Shanghai Children's Welfare Fundation in Huangpu District on Thursday.
The Shanghai Children's Welfare Foundation was established on Thursday ahead of International Children's Day. Its first program, which aims to provide aid and care for children in plight due to absent or improper guardianship, was initiated at the same time, the city's civil affairs authorities announced.
The foundation has an initial fund of 5.9 million yuan (US$824,806) and will support charity programs concerning disabled children, children in need and left-behind children in rural areas with parents working in cities.
The programs will cover rescue, fostering, recovery, treatment, social participation and the rights and interests of these vulnerable children, said Zhang Jiehua, director of the foundation.
The first program will provide educational support, family guardianship guidance, daily care and fostering, and social integration of children in plight by social workers, said Tao Jimin, director of the children's welfare department of the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau.
"It is an exploration of a new model of child protection, toward the goal of a complete child protection network in the city," said Tao.
