The China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF), a non-governmental and non-profit national organization, was founded in Beijing in March 1989.
The non-profit or “third” sector in China developed during a period of reform and opening-up. An open, dynamic market economy was gradually replacing a closed, centrally planned economy, resulting in widespread social change and breakdowns in the welfare system. No longer able to rely on the government to ensure job security and social benefits, people became increasingly self-sufficient and more independent. The rejuvenation in Chinese society created an unprecedented friendly environment for the development of China’s previously insignificant non-profit sector. As one of the earliest non-profit organizations to be established, the CYDF has seen remarkable success.
Since its founding, the CYDF has devoted itself to the well being and development of Chinese youth, primarily with regards to education, health, environmental protection, volunteerism and engagement. The mission of CYDF is to help young people build capacity and to improve the environment for the development of young people by providing aid services, giving a voice to the interests of young people and carrying out social advocacy.
The CYDF is best known for launching and managing its largest program to date, “Project Hope.” The goal of Project Hope is to ensure that children and youth in rural communities have the opportunity to go to school. By the end of 2009, Project Hope had raised over RMB 6 billion in donations, helped 3.5 million children from poverty-stricken rural families continue their schooling, built 16,355 Hope primary schools, presented Hope mini-library series to 14,636 village schools in remote areas, and trained over 60,000 village primary school teachers. In a survey of 29 provinces of household residents aged 16 or above in China, 94% had heard of Project Hope and 64% had contributed in some way. As a result of consistent efforts by staff and supporters, Project Hope has become one of the best-known and successful charity programs in the country.
The CYDF’s work is always youth-oriented and driven by critical needs. In recent years, the CYDF has launched new initiatives in supporting the second generation of migrant workers for vocational education to improve their life skills and inspiring youth to develop their own creative charity programs and social entrepreneurship. In the field of environment protection, the CYDF has initiated the Mother River Protection Project to help young people raise environmental awareness, and plant a large number of trees near sources of the Yangtze River, the Yellow River and eventually in other environmentally threatened areas throughout the country. In the field of health, the CYDF launched Action Red Ribbon, with a mission to increase HIV/AIDS awareness among Chinese youth and to support the education of children in AIDS-affected areas.
Due to frequent disasters in the country, the CYDF has developed a mechanism and taskforce to help disaster relief and recovery. After the massive Wenchuan earthquake on May 12, 2008, the CYDF built over 200 temporary Earthquake Relief Hope Schools and over 200 permanent Hope schools in the hard-hit Sichuan province. 70 hours after the Yushu earthquake on April 14, 2010, the CYDF built the first temporary Earthquake Relief Hope School in the epi-center Jiegu Town of Qinghai. President Hu Jintao visited the orphans of this school and encouraged them with words “There will be new schools! There will be new homes!” Besides provisions of classrooms, the CYDF also delivers psychological care and a variety of social work service to the affected children and teachers.
Finally, the CYDF is active in the development of China’s non-profit sector. The CYDF hosted several conferences to promote the development of non-profit organizations in China and the lessons that might be learned from Project Hope in that development. It is playing an active role in the development of non-profit organizations in China by organizing and promoting international exchanges and cooperation.
