Jia Xian Programme Unit
Jia Xian County
Population: 271,000
Communities: 9 townships and 161 administrative villages
Sponsored children: Around 5,599
Jia Xian is in Jia county – a poor, agricultural area with an annual revenue of less than seven million CNY (US $1,025,367).
Plan started working here in 2000 and assists in community development and improving children's awareness of their rights so they can reach their full potential.
Programme highlights
Building health workers' capacity
Since 2005 we have conducted a 5-year 'general medicine' training which has run 15 courses to 410 village doctors across the county. Presently, 36 members in the first batch of trainees have obtained medical qualifications, and 50 village doctors have been hired by the health department for rural health work.
Helping children give voice to their rights
Plan runs awareness-raising activities for teachers and parents, and has supported youth in starting up child organisations such as drama and drawing clubs.
These clubs make teachers pay more attention to children’s participation and improves their ability to create stimulating children’s activities themselves. Students have used drama and drawing to raise awareness on issues that affect them. Now parents have greater understanding of their children’s rights and they pay more attention and give better support to children’s participation.
"When students put their rich and colourful works in front of teachers, we were surprised that they have so many thoughts and abilities beyond chasing and playing," said Mr. Cao from Gu Cheng Primary School, Jia County.
Education for all
In cooperation with the county education bureau, Plan has provided resources and run teacher training in child-centered teaching and learning, English, physical education and information technology in 9 townships.
We are also helping to establish a local training team to train teachers in advanced teaching methods and child-friendly approaches to learning.
Building pride and livelihoods
Plan runs various initiatives to strengthen the abilities of villagers and increase their financial resources. One such initiative is micro-lending, where small loans are made available to villagers to establish businesses. This not only increases villagers' income and pride in their abilities, but often gives women greater social standing in their communities.
