In March 2012,
ChangAi Children’s Project donated RMB 1 million, of
which RMB 350,000 was contributed by Kasikornbank, for
the construction of a primary school in Yunnan. Following
a 5.8-magnitude earthquake in 2011, many of the schools
in Yingjiang county were declared unfit for further
use.
Construction of the Mangya ChangAi Hope School was
completed in 2012. The school now has over 300 students
and 16 teachers. The majority are Dai, while the rest
are Jingpo and other minorities. Students plant their
own vegetables and raise pigs and fish on the school
grounds, using leftover food from the school kitchen
as feed.
Over 200 students stay in the 3-storey dormitory
building, which has a bathroom/toilet on each floor
and a teacher per floor.
More work needs to be done on the promotion of good
hygiene. At present there is no water reservoir and
the kitchen does not have a waste water system. Another
issue to be tackled is how to increase transport safety
for students who do not live in the school and have
to travel far.
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In 2012 Yunnan Ministry of Health
launched a policy to improve hygiene and sanitation
in the countryside. Improvement of toilet conditions
has been on ChangAi agenda and is a key part of this
policy, so we decided to support the construction of
toilets in 50 households in three project villages in
Ruili and Wanding.
A standard toilet designed by Yunnan MOH costs 3,000
RMB - each household contributed 1,850 RMB, the local
government provided 550 RMB, and ChangAi provided 600
RMB. Contribution by households themselves is essential
to ensure the understanding of benefits from improved
hygiene standards.
ChangAi support allowed the project to take place, as
our subsidy filled the gap in the cost after government
subsidy and what each household could afford.
We expect improved domestic hygiene to have a positive
impact on children's health, leading to better concentration
at school and thus benefiting both their education and
living environment. Healthier parents are also in a
better position to care for their children.
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In January 2013, Women’s federation
organized a study tour of a specialized cooperative
union of farmers. The union was formally established
in June 2012 by nine specialized cooperatives in sectors
of rubber, tea, Dendrobium orchid, coffee, mountain
vegetables, cattle and pigs. This new type of rural
economic organization spans over 6 towns and 22 villages.
By the end of 2012, members of the Association grew
to 3,779.
Attendees visited a demonstration base for rubber planting
and orchid cultivation. Through the on-site visit and
demonstrations given by farmers, villagers learnt the
benefits of cooperation that leads to stronger development
capabilities.
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