A project initiated by China Children and Teenagers' Fund (CCTF) has
helped approximately 1.6 Chinese girls who discontinued studying 16
years ago to return to their classrooms.
The project, entitled "Spring Blossom", has raised more than 600
million yuan (about US$740,000), some of which has been used to
build around 300 schools in 30 Chinese mainland provinces,
autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central
government.
CCTF launched "Spring Blossom Project" in 1989, when a report
from the fourth national census showed that 4.8 million kids aged 7
through 14 were deprived of education, 83 percent of which were
girls.
Besides educational problems, adolescent girls, especially in
poverty-stricken regions, are facing such barriers as family and
sexual violence, malnutrition, social and sexual discrimination and
even desertion, Jiang Yue'e, head of Children's section of
All-China Women's Federation(
ACWF) said in a seminar held on Wednesday.
"China has achieved a lot in the development of law and
regulations related to gender equality," said Dr. Christian
Voumard, UNICEF representative to China on the seminar, "while new
challenging issues have emerged in this transitional period towards
the market economy."
There has been a growing unbalanced gender ratio at birth, which
currently stands at 117 boys for every 100 girls. More girls are
left behind by parents than boys due to farmers' migration and the
ratio of HIV-carrying women has more than doubled from 15 to 39
percent between 1998 and 2004, Voumard added.
ACWF has advocated China's fundamental national policy of gender
equality to parents and the public through its nation-wide
branches, promoting participation in missions to give girls
practical help, Jiang Yue'e said.
Since 2002, ACWF has worked in cooperation with the UK
Department for International Development (DFID) China to provide
poor adolescent girls with skills training.
The focus is on building the skills of poor girls, many of whom
may be functionally illiterate, extend their capabilities, improve
their livelihoods and build up their self-confidence and
independence, said Jiang.
A three-day seminar on girl's development in China, at the
cosponsorship of ACWF, UNICEF China and DRID China, started on
Wednesday. Participants will share experiences and achievements in
endeavoring to help weak girls within past decade.
(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2005)