by Dan Chao, Director, The 1990 Institute

In late June, early July, I visited Pucheng in Shaanxi Province to meet with the Pucheng County Women's Sustainable Development Association (PCWSDA), its 3 other sponsors, government officials, and borrowers. The purpose was to give the initial RMB 300,000 (US$43,000) from The 1990 Institute to PCWSDA.  The funds are to be used to make about 160 micro business loans,  which are expected to  raise the standard of living for over 800 rural poor.

Pucheng Women's Federation Chairwoman He Ai Qing (right) and PCWSDA Chairwoman Yuan Zhu Qing (left) with Dan Chao.	Celebration with partners and govenment officials.

The relationship among the Institute, PCWSDA, Plan China, and the Pucheng County and Shaanxi provincial Women’s Federations was celebrated in a ceremony attended by about 100 people, including local and regional government officials, local village borrowers, the press, and staff members. 

PCWSDA loans made to the poor in Pucheng  enable them to earn additional income by planting more crops, raising more livestock, etc.  The resulting additional income can then be used to provide better education for their children, and healthcare for both their children and the elderly. Part of the funds will also be used by PCWSDA to expand their staff to handle the additional lending capabilities.

Shi Yu Cun grows additional cotton with her loan.	Shu Yu Cun with Sun Lei, Program Manager from Plan China (left)

Zhang Man Chun(center) with disabled husband and mother. Additional income will be used to obtain better health care for her mother.	New Borrowers from Xu Jia Zhuang village,  Jingyao township.

Dan Chao with staff of PCWSDA.  Third from left is General Secretary Xie Yue Hong.	Wang Xi Ling of Yi Long village,  San He Township, feeding new piglets she bought with her loan of RMB 2000.

School children that can benefit from better nutrition.