One the first day of June, 2019, Noriko Primary School campus on the outskirt of Phnom Penh is more jubilant than usual. Launch Ceremony of Cambodia Panda Pack Project, presented by China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, is held here. Today happens to be the International Children’s Day, and these colorful backpacks become wonderful presents from Panda Land for the students here.

H.E. Heang Sine, Under Secretary of State of the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport, H.E. Put Samith, Director General, Directorate General of Education, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Mr. Chen Hongtao, Standing Deputy Secretary General of CFPA, representatives from Chinese enterprises in Cambodia, students, parents & teachers of Noriko Primary School, and representatives of the local community, totaling 250 people, attended the ceremony.

Mr. Heang Sine said that the launch of Cambodia Panda Pack Project brings brighter childhood for the Cambodian children who urgently need school supplies. Cambodia appreciates the love from the Chinese people.

Mr. Hongtao Chen expresses that he hopes Cambodian students will love the Children’s Day presents from Panda Land. Panda Packs are donated by e-commerce merchants on Alibaba, and each backpack is filled with the love of Chinese public. He hopes that the Panda Pack Project will sow the seeds of friendship.

After the remarks, Mr. Hongtao Chen, Standing Deputy Secretary General of CFPA, hands the plaque, signifying the donation of 30,000 Panda Packs, to H.E. Heang Sine, Under Secretary of State of the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport. This symbolizes that China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation officially launching the Panda Pack Project in Cambodia.

After the ceremony, guests and representatives presented the Panda Packs, International Children’s Day Presents from Panda Land, to each student, along with the love and best wishes from the Chinese people.

To ensure that Cambodian children can receive these special Children’s Day gifts by 1 June, the first batch of 10,000 Panda Packs has been distributed to students across Cambodia. In total, 26 schools in one municipality and five provinces benefitted, including Phnom Penh, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu, Kampot, Sihanoukville, and Siem Reap. In order to make sure each student indeed receives the Panda Pack, CFPA staff visited all 26 schools and held training sessions for school principals and teachers, and reviewed relevant documents.

In response to the Belt and the Road Initiative, and with the support of the exclusive strategic partner Alibaba Philanthropy, the Panda Pack Project was officially launched on 26 February, 2019 in Beijing. Cambodia is among the first group of countries that CFPA partnered with to implement the Panda Pack Project.