Xingtai Daily had an interview with Lu Jianhua, Director-General of Xingtai Municipal Bureau of Civil Affairs on matters concerning the establishment of Xingtai Charity Federation.  

Xingtai Daily: What is the nature and objective of the charity federation? When will it be established?

Lu Jianhua: The charity federation is a nonprofit public welfare organization made up of charity-conscious citizens, legal persons and other social organizations. Its objective is: to be kind to the people, do good deeds for the masses, and carry forward the humanitarian and philanthropic tradition of Chinese nation, “assist the elderly, support the orphans, help the disabled and relieve the needy”. Basically helping unfortunate individuals and disadvantaged groups and carrying out public donations and charitable aids in various forms.  

At present, there are still many people in our city who become poor due to serious diseases as well as some disabled persons. They often live below the poverty line to the extent that they can barely survive at a subsistence level. They need the help, care and aid of society. Establising a charity federation in Xingtai, forging links  with the China Charity Federation and charity organizations in other provinces and countries and striving to get more assistance funds has become an urgent task in the work of “poverty alleviation”. The State Council has listed the development of social charity in the four social guarantee systems of China. The Ministry of Civil Affairs has formulated the Guiding Outline for Charity in China (2006-2010). By now, almost all other cities in Hebei have set up charity federations. Mayor Liu Daqun put forth the requirements for the goal of “vigorous development of charity” in this year’s Government Work Report. The Municipal Party Committee and Government list “vigorous development of charity” as one of the public commitments in 2010. The establishment of the charity federation provides a donation platform for the organizations, social groups and individuals who care for and support charity in the city. This platform will widely raise donations, help disadvantaged groups in the city and more effectively promote the development of charity within the city.  

It is intended that inaugural meeting will be held by the end of this year. The preparatory work has received great attention from the municipal party committee and government. Recently, the general office of the municipal party committee and the general office of the municipal government also issued the Notice on Promoting Charity.  

Xingtai Daily: How can one join the charity federation of our city? 

Lu Jianhua: We sincerely welcome the organizations and individuals who are enthusiastic about charity and welfare causes to join the charity federation. According to the Articles of Association of Xingtai Charity Federation (Draft), anyone who accepts the articles of association of the federation and is willing to perform related obligations may become a member of the federation upon approval. The preparatory group has worked out an incentive mechanism for the organizations and individuals who make active donations in the preparatory stage. The organizations and individuals who are enthusiastic for charity and whose donation reaches a specific amount will be honored as a founder member, a permanent member or an honorary post, and may be recommended as a member of the first council and nominated as a candidate of a standing member or a vice chairman according to the wishes of the individual (organization). The organizations and individuals who want to make donation to or join the charity federation may contact our preparatory group at 2136807 2136810.  

Xingtai Daily: China Charity Federation has its logo. Will Xingtai Charity Federation have a logo that can reflect the local characteristics of Xingtai? 

Lu Jianhua: The preparatory group of Xingtai Charity Federation is soliciting a logo from the public. The concrete requirements are: The logo should embody the theme of “charity” and fully exhibit the human landscape and cultural heritage of Xingtai. The logo should be round with the upper part surrounded with Chinese name of Xingtai Charity Federation and the lower part surrounded with the English name.  The design pattern may be sent by e-mail to xtsmgj@163.com. Once the work is adopted, the charity federation will award the designer.