Shenzhen residents have registered in a campaign to help about 150 children from poverty-stricken families complete their education.

A campaign hotline opened Thursday to accept donations for 100 children from Heyuan City. Shenzhen residents filled the quota in two days, and some of them already paid 2,200 yuan (US$266), the amount needed for a child’s primary school education.

Organizers extended the 8209-5000 hotline’s service until Sunday noon welcoming donations for more children from all over Guangdong. Shenzhen’s association of volunteers said about 50 disadvantaged children found help during the extension period.

The donations were given on a one-to-one basis.

The 100 Heyuan children will come to Shenzhen for three days of events starting Oct. 31. They will meet donors at activities organized by several charity foundations, a real estate developer, the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily and Shenzhen Evening News. The real estate company made donations to cover tuition for 10 Heyuan children.

A man surnamed Li, unable to leave work, had his mother choose a Heyuan girl as a beneficiary. Li had wanted to help a child in last year’s initial campaign but had acted too late. Doctors and nurses of the Longgang Center Hospital donated for all 20 children from Heping County, Heyuan.

Among the donors were also teachers, students, managers, self-employed people and soldiers.

During last year’s initial campaign, organizers increased the number of children from 100 to 143 after Shenzhen residents rushed to give donations.

Heyuan, a relatively underdeveloped city in northeastern Guangdong, was designated as the city to receive help from Shenzhen as part of the province’s efforts to lift cash-strapped areas out of poverty.

(Shenzhen Daily October 25, 2004)