Officials hold a launch ceremony for the Qinqin Water Station charity scheme in a community in north China's Hebei Province. [CWDF]

The China Women's Development Foundation (CWDF) held a launch ceremony on December 14 for the charity-backed Qinqin Water Station located in a community in north China's Hebei Province.

During the ceremony, the water treatment station in Lianheguan Community, Laiyuan County, the first of its kind, was put into trial operation.

Witnesses at the event included Zhang Jianmin, deputy secretary-general of the CWDF; Li Jun, president of the water purifier manufacturer firm and charity donor Micoe Group; officials from Hebei Women's Federation and Laiyuan government offices; and, over 100 local grassroots women.

The Qinqin Water Station scheme is an upgrade of the CWDF's Water Cellar for Mothers project, which is designed to relieve the water problems faced by impoverished women across the country. The program has similarly expanded to now encompass the Village Water Supply Scheme, the 1+N Plan, the Drinking Water-Safety for Campus Program and the Beautiful Homeland Project.

The charitable endeavor aims to raise the drinking water quality of residents in communities in cities and towns across the country by providing clean water solutions, purifiers and establishing water stations, according to a spokesperson.

Moreover, the latest project will offer job opportunities to local poverty-stricken women, involving them in related operations and maintenance work.

Earlier this year, at a launch ceremony for the Micoe Care Fund, Micoe Group donated 3 million yuan (U.S.$ 431,916) and 2 million yuan (U.S.$ 287,944) worth of supplies to the CWDF. Over the next year, the company is set to offer another 2 million yuan (U.S.$ 287,944) worth of purifiers and auxiliary facilities.

To guarantee efficient operation, maintenance, supervision and distribution, the supplies provided under the scheme are being handed over to government agencies or women's federations in pilot regions, said Zhang. All profits will be put back into charity projects or activities with a focus on helping impoverished families.

After the ceremony, officials inspected the water station facilities.

(Source: CWDF/Translated and edited by Women of China)