UTC Expands Rural Children’s Access to Education Resources
Shanghai, China, July 23, 2014
This year, United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) in China continued to expand its partnership with The Library Project by donating 130 elementary school libraries to schools in rural China. Access to school libraries enhances learning and provides a broad range of knowledge to children in rural areas. Since the partnership between UTC and The Library Project began, employees of UTC China entities have successfully equipped 287 student libraries and 69 teacher libraries with 179,650 books, benefiting over 62,630 students and 3,820 teachers across 12 provinces in China.
The China UTC Library Project, supported by China Population Welfare Foundation and local communities, aims to develop a sustainable and scalable approach to address rural schools’ challenges in obtaining the appropriate educational resources and teaching capacities. The program adopted a systematic solution with the combination of interactive student library settings and selected children’s books. Additionally, libraries were built for teachers’ educational capacity building and provide a site for regular UTC skill-based, volunteer, on-site mentoring.
“We are very excited for the expansion of the UTC China Library Project this year and I am also glad to see the continuous growth of our employee involvement in volunteerism and community services. As a responsible corporate citizen, UTC is committed to supporting charitable and social causes world-wide and in China. Our employees also contribute their time, talent and expertise to build sustainable and vibrant communities. That’s the way we make things better in a professional and responsible manner,” said Liping Xie, President, UTC Aerospace & Government Relations – China.
“I have learned a lot from refreshing these libraries and sharing joys with the children,” Su Qianan, an employee of Pratt & Whitney Chengdu Aerotech Manufacturing Company said. “Through the UTC China Library Project, I also get acquainted with many co-workers from other business units and am deeply touched by their passion and sincerity. I have participated as a volunteer many times and will continue to do so in the future,” added Su, who has participated in four volunteer trips to donate books to elementary schools in rural areas since the beginning of this project.
Cui Xiaohong, an employee from UTC Building & Industrial Systems, participated in a volunteer trip for the first time. “It was an impressive trip. Only when we were on-site, could I appreciate the excitement of the children toward gaining knowledge. I am glad the company has undertaken such a project, allowing us to better address the real needs of more and more children in rural areas.”
Along with its growth in markets around the world, United Technologies believes that corporate responsibility and financial performance go hand in hand. UTC’s community engagement is focused on building sustainable cities, advancing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education and supporting vibrant communities. With more than 22,000 employees in China entities, UTC has a long history of supporting sustainable development and vibrant communities in China.
“It’s amazing to continue the momentum of The Library Project this year with UTC in China” said Tom Stader, Founder and Executive Director of The Library Project. “Along with the expansion of the program coverage, the children not only benefited from the access to a broader range of knowledge, local teachers also obtained additional channels for educational resources. That makes our joint efforts a sustainable community approach.”
The Library Project is a non-profit charity organization that donates books and libraries to under-financed schools in the developing world. Thus far, The Library Project has created more than 1,000 libraries for elementary schools in the remote areas in China. The Library Project is a charity partner of China Population Welfare Foundation – a non-profit charity organization approved by the Ministry of Civil Affairs Registry.
United Technologies, based in Hartford, Connecticut, provides high technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries.
About The Library Project
The Library Project is dedicated to improving rural education in China and throughout the world by providing children with access to libraries, literacy programs, and teacher training. Since 2006, they have benefited over a million children and teachers in more than 3,000 schools. Their programs include Reading Rooms, Reading Corners, Literacy Bags, and STEAM Boxes, all designed to create educational spaces where children can learn and grow. The Library Project is committed to measurable impact and continuous support for rural elementary schools, kindergartens, orphanages, community centers, and the home. For more information, visit www.library-project.org.