Project Hope, China's largest program to assist poor rural children in their education, received a donation of 120 million yuan (15 million U.S. dollars) in Beijing Monday (Oct 30th).

The money was donated by the State Grid Corporation and will be used to build 300 schools in poor rural regions over three years.

The first 100 schools will be set up this year.

Initiated by the China Youth Development Foundation in 1989, Project Hope has raised 3.2 billion yuan (400 million dollars) and assisted 2.9 million poor rural schools.

More than 12,700 "schools of hope" have been set up around the country and over 30,000 rural school teachers have received training.

A survey last year showed more than 86 percent of education officials and school principals agreed the building schoolhouses required the most financial assistance.

Editor: Donald