The trend of charity for education is growing in China, benefiting many poor children, China News Service reports.

Many colleges and universities start the school year in September. However, some freshmen may later be forced to give up further studies because their poor families can't afford the high tuition fees. To support these students, philanthropists hold various charitable activities to take in donations.

18-year-old Ma Qi in Fukang of Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region is one of the students who benefits from charitable activities.

His father makes only 400 yuan a month, or about US$50, and his mother has no stable income. Although enrolled at university, Ma Qi may have given up school due to the high tuition, 4,500 yuan a year, or about US$563.

Luckily, Ma Qi became acquainted with a fund for his education. He will receive 8,000 yuan for his four-year studies, or about US$1,000. "It is a big help for me," Ma Qi said.

Many students from rural areas face the problem of high tuition like Ma Qi. Sources say about 50,000 students in Xinjiang are enrolled by colleges or universities every year, but nearly 10,000 among them can't afford tuition.

Ma Qi is one student benefiting from a charitable event held by the Wenzhou Chamber of Commerce in Xinjiang, Xinjiang Charity Federation and other organizations. At the fund drive, Wenzhou businessmen working in Xinjiang have contributed 2.3 million yuan to a charity fund, or about 287,500 US dollars, and 36 poor students received aid grants.

The secretary general of the Xinjiang Charity Federation, Ma Li, says charitable organizations can't solve the problem of poverty, but they can call on more people to join charitable activities to help more citizens. A deep gap still exists between the rich and the poor, so charitable giving is an important way to promote the development of a harmonious society.

However, surveys show the amount of money colleted annually by charitable organizations in China is still small and not all rich engage in charitable donations.

Experts say adopting preferential taxation policies is key to promoting the development of charity in the country. 
 
(CRI September 7, 2006)