Moutai helps poor students realize their dreams

Guizhou liquor brand provides funding for young people in rural areas

China's leading liquor producer Kweichow Moutai has been ramping up efforts to launch large-scale public welfare activities and offer assistance to students in need across the country through its Hope Project for Dream Realization since 2012.

Over the past nine years, the cumulative donation from Moutai has reached 914 million yuan ($13.06 million), benefiting a total of 182,800 students.

Held by Moutai and the China Youth Development Foundation, this year's event, in Congjiang county, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture in Guizhou province on Thursday, focused on poverty-stricken areas, especially poor counties and regions affected by the COVID-19 epidemic and floods. Moutai is to provide 20,000 students in need with 5,000 yuan each across the country this year.

"This is the ninth consecutive year that Moutai has joined hands with the China Youth Foundation, donating 100 million yuan per year to subsidize 20,000 students to enter university and realize their dreams," said Li Jingren, general manager of Moutai.

He said China has entered a historical period of poverty alleviation and Moutai is playing its part in the process by taking full corporate social responsibility, especially helping grassroots students in rural areas.

Guo Meijian, chairman of the China Youth Development Foundation, said the foundation will continue to help students, educate people and implement the Hope Project with Moutai.

"Over the past years, the project has been widely praised by all sectors of society and has become a name card for China's public welfare undertakings in the new era.

"Educating people and wholeheartedly serving the growth of young people is the responsibility of the Hope Project," Guo said.

Started in 2012, Moutai's Hope Project has subsidized rural students who were admitted to full-time colleges and universities. For freshmen who are excellent students, they will be provided with a one-time subsidy of 5,000 yuan per person for their transportation and living expenses.

Since 2016, Moutai has spent half of the funds in its hometown every year.

"Moutai is not only Guizhou's Moutai, but also China's Moutai. It is Moutai's duty to play its role in society," Li said. Moutai's Hope Project has become the country's key public welfare event with the largest amount of donation, recipients, the widest coverage and the most far-reaching impact, he said.

"As the provider of this special grant, Moutai is proud to have the opportunity to help the most dynamic group of young people in China." said Luo Qiang, governor of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture, adding that Moutai has a pure heart for education and love.

Luo said Moutai has added new strengths to poverty alleviation in Guizhou, sowed new hope for education, and fully demonstrated its social responsibility as a national brand of China.