Marriott International has entered a new charity agreement focused on fostering children’s education in rural China.
Signed with charity group, Yao Foundation, the new three-year agreement sees Marriott International offer an additional commitment of RMB8 million to establish four new Hope Schools.
The two parties have been working together since 2013 and has seen Marriott donate more than RMB5 million to Yao Foundation, establish two Hope Schools in southwestern China and supported two Yao Foundation Hope Primary School Basketball Seasons (in 2014 and 2015).
At the signing ceremony, held in Shanghai Marriott Hotel City Centre, Marriott International and Yao Foundation also introduced their “Let’s Build Hope Together” campaign.
This initiative, which rallies support from leading influencers in Chinese society, aims to raise awareness and engagement amongst the public, and ultimately provide children in rural China with more educational opportunities.
“Providing education is the key. Our first program with Yao Foundation had wonderful results and it received enormous support from our associates, owners and business partners, as well as customers.”
Simon Cooper, Asia Pacific Marriott International President
Marriott International has also encouraged its associates to donate books to establish small libraries in the Marriott – Yao Foundation Hope Schools.
The first two school projects of Marriott International and Yao Foundation have made great strides.
The second school project is in Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, China, located at 4,000 meters above sea level.
All its students are from the families of farmers or herdsmen nearby, mostly Tibetan Minority.
Marriott International and Yao Foundation are going to rebuild its teaching buildings, set up a computer lab and a small library to provide its 180 students a better study environment.
The first project, the Lu Zhou Marriott – Yao Foundation Hope Primary School in Sichuan Province, has already been completed and is in use.