Hitachi celebrates a decade helping Lichuan school

Donated goods have made life and study more comfortable

Students at the Hitachi Hope Primary School in Lichuan county, Jiangxi province, welcomed some important visitors last month - a group of staff from the Japanese electronics giant that for the past decade has been supporting the school in various ways.

This time around, the staff brought with them eight more solar water heaters, as well as offered the children lessons in origami, the art of paper folding often associated with Japanese culture.

Established in 1967, the school has 300 students. Since 2006 Hitachi has been working closely with staff there to improve teaching and living facilities.

A new student dormitory and dining hall have been built, and sports equipment, projectors and other teaching aids worth 200,000 yuan ($30,800) have been bought.

Other donations have included bedding, textbooks, stationery, microscopes, magnet blackboards, desks and chairs.

Mizumoto Shinji, general manager of Hitachi (China) Ltd, said: "It is my first time visiting the school and I am delighted and excited to be here.

"Before I set off, I looked at photos of the school 10 years ago. At that time, its resources were very limited, which had an adverse effect on teaching standards."

He said Hitachi had since been making every effort to improve living and teaching conditions at the school.

"The water heaters, for instance, allow teachers and students to take a warm bath during the winters, and for them to live and study more comfortably," said Shinji.

"Most of the donations come from Hitachi employees in China, and we really hope our efforts help to inject vigor and vitality into the school."

fanfeifei@chinadaily.com.cn