Wang Guangmei, widow of China's former president Liu Shaoqi, has
been nominated for a special personal achievement award because of
her extraordinary efforts to fight poverty.
Wang was among 19 candidates who were nominated yesterday in
Beijing for the second China Poverty Eradication Awards, a biannual
award that rewards individuals or organizations who make great
contributions to poverty alleviation.
The 19 nominees fit into 10 categories, including special
personal achievement, innovation, volunteers, donation,
self-struggle and dedication.
In 1995, Wang auctioned six antiques left by her mother raising
566,000 yuan (US$70,750). She initiated "Project Happiness", which
aimed to improve the situation of poor mothers nationwide.
Through 11 years of constant efforts, nearly 700,000 poor people
from 154,000 households have benefited from the project's 389
programmes around the country.
Wang, 85, became the only candidate of the category as another
nominee Xu Yongguang, initiator of the "Hope Project", which aims
to help poor students, withdrew after learning of Wang's
nomination.
The Amity Foundation and a farmer association in Yongji, Shanxi
Province, were named in the organization category.
"By promoting experiences and touching stories in poverty
reduction, we hope to motivate more people from all walks of life
to join poverty alleviation work in China," said Wang Hangzui,
secretary-general of the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation
(CFPA).
The final 10 winners, one for each category, will be announced
on October 17, the international day for poverty eradication, after
voting by a 23-member judge panel.
"Each candidate may have their unique mode and conditions, but
the way of thinking, the strong sense of growing away from poverty,
is worth promoting," said Kang Xiaoguang, professor of the School
of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development of Renmin
University, who is also chairman of the judging panel.
"Rather than simply being moved, we hope more people will take
action to help the poor," said Xie Hailong, a volunteer
photographer who has devoted the past decade to documenting the
rural education situation.
"The money saved from forgoing a pack of cigarettes or a sauna
can raise a child from illiteracy."
Since large-scale poverty alleviation work began in 1986, the
country's poor population was reduced to less than 24 million by
the end of 2005 from the 125 million in 1985, according to sources
with the CFPA.
(China Daily September 25, 2006)