Recurring donation system established in China
( 2003-11-10 20:55) (Xinhua)
China has set up its own
recurring donation system featuring the extensive participation of social,
rather than governmental, forces, and which is guided by civil affairs
departments.
Wang Zhenyao, director of the disaster and social relief department under the
Ministry of Civil Affairs, made the remarks Monday at a Business and Civil
Society Forum, the first-ever international forum of its kind hosted by China.
China, with over 20,000 donation workstations, has undergone three major
steps in recurring donation, said Wang.
The "recurring, non-governmental and voluntary" donation system first
appeared in 1995. During flood-fighting in 1998, the social donations amounted
to 7 billion yuan, exceeding the figure from the government for the first time.
In 2001, China reinforced its work on the donation system, aiming for the
establishment of a service network, Wang added.
According to Wang, the donation system, as a supplement to the government,
had benefited 360 million needy people, who had received 9.493 billion yuan and
materials worth 10.505 billion yuan from 1996 to 2002.
However, there are still some difficulties in people's awareness, fundraising
efficiency and waste of resources, said Fan Baojun, president of the China
Charity Federation.
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