Schools are top priority as charity cash rolls in

By Yan Zhen  |   2008-7-4  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

RELIGIOUS organizations and ethnic minority groups in the city are among those helping reconstruction work in Dujiangyan.

The Shanghai Islam Association has raised a total of 650,000 yuan (US$92,857) to set up a primary school there, according to the Shanghai Committee of Ethnic and Religious Affairs.

Meanwhile, the Shanghai Association of Ethnic Minority plans to collect 500,000 yuan to help another primary school for ethnic minority students in Dujiangyan.

The association said that it would offer free training to school faculties via its regular educational aiding programs.

The Shanghai Buddhist Association had expressed interest in constructing a couple of primary schools as well as offering medical facilities.

Local temples will be organized to help needy students and set up long-term connections to help them with their studies.

By the end of last month, local ethnic groups and religious organizations had donated a total of 26.64 million yuan from a range of charity events in Shanghai.