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©UNICEF/China/2009 On 7 December, 2009, Mr. Helmut Broeker(Left), Chief Executive Officer of Porsche (China) Motors Ltd., handed over the vehicles to Dr. Yin Yin Nwe, UNICEF China Representative.

 4x4 vehicles to deliver educational resources to some 55,000 children and 3,000 teachers in rural schools in Sichuan and Gansu

BEIJING, December 8, 2009 – Starting from this December, a new partnership between UNICEF and Porsche Motors China Ltd., will provide four Mobile Educational Training and Resource Units to transport tutors, sports kits, library books, teaching aids and other educational support to some 500 schools in remote mountainous areas affected by last years' devastating earthquake.

The initiative, launched yesterday in Chengdu, reaffirmed the partnership between the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Porsche China to build back a better life for children by improving the educational quality of under-equipped rural schools.

At yesterday's event, Porsche announced the donation of 10.2 million RMB (1.5 million US dollars) in the next three years to support the programme, and handed over four Porsche Cayenne 4x4 vehicles to UNICEF to act as Mobile Educational Training and Resource Units. This is also part of Porsche's "Empowering the Future" initiative to support the vulnerable children in China.

©UNICEF/China/2009 Representatives from UNICEF, Porsche China, the Ministry of Education and other government partners attended the ceremony on Moday.

"This exciting project will allow us to provide urgently required support for the most remote earthquake affected communities in Gansu and Sichuan. We are very pleased to be initiating this new partnership between UNICEF and Porsche." Dr. Yin Yin Nwe, UNICEF Representative to China, said at the event.

"This project will empower 55,000 children with quality learning and improve the skills of 3,000 teachers in 500 schools; all of these skills are useful for the future." Dr. Nwe added.

"These Cayenne will navigate the mountainous terrain under severe weather conditions, bringing tutors and resources to areas that other aid organizations have struggled to reach. We are proud to think this donation from Porsche will make such a difference to the futures of so many children." Mr. Helmut Broeker, Chief Executive Officer of Porsche (China) Motors Ltd, said.

Each of the four mobile units will bring educational equipment, experts and support staff from the Ministry of Education to visit one project school per day in Qingchuan and Cangxi Counties in Sichuan and Xihe and Kongtong Counties in Gansu. The experts will provide on-site training for rural teachers and help enhance teaching and learning in those schools.

In the immediate aftermath of Wenchuan earthquake, Porsche China committed 5.4 million RMB, or about 793,000 US dollars to help UNICEF build back better for children in the quake zone. "For as long as needed, our 'Empowering the Future' programme will continue to support UNICEF in bringing psychological care as well as sanitation and health education to the children and communities that need them most." Mr. Helmut Broeker said.

About UNICEF in China:
UNICEF first assisted China between 1947 and 1951, providing emergency services, food and nutrition, health and hygiene training during and after the War of Liberation. In 1979 UNICEF officially commenced its cooperation with the Government of China to support child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. 

For further information, please contact:
Dale Rutstein, UNICEF China, +8610 65323131 ext. 1301, drutstein@unicef.org or
Liu Li, UNICEF China, +8610 65323131 ext. 1303, liliu@unicef.org