The People’s Republic of China, through China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, donated Panda Packs including scholastic materials and 5 oxygen generators to primary schools in Jonglei State at a ceremony witnessed by Jonglei State officials in Juba on Tuesday.
Addressing journalists during the handover ceremony, Chinese Ambassador Huan Ning said the donation comes with love and hoped it will bring warmth to the children affected by love.
“The small package that we deliver today carries big love and embodies the best wishes and ardent expectations of the Chinese people for the people of South Sudan, especially for the children,” Ambassador Ning said. “It is hoped that these packages can bring a special care and warmth to the children affected by floods in Jonglei State.”
He added: “As the Chinese New Year of Tiger is approaching, the Panda Pack provided by China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation to primary school students in Jonglei State of South Sudan, came to Juba full of care and blessings. It will become the best New Year’s Gifts for the kids.”
In her statement during the reception of the donations, Jonglei State minister of health Atong Kuol Manyang Juk lauded the Chinese government for the donations.
“On behalf of Jonglei State, I would like to appreciate the generous donations that are given by the People’s Republic of China to the people of Jonglei State,” Minister Kuol said. “If you look at our state, it has been devastated by a lot of things including floods and conflict.”
For his part, the Secretary-General of the Jonglei State government, Gatwech Koak Nyuon, said the donation will be given to the intended beneficiaries and the picture will be given to the Chinese Embassy to prove as much.
“This support will directly go to the beneficiaries and we will have evidence to bring to the Chinese Embassy with pictures of children when we distribute the donations,” Nyuon added. “We are the same people in different countries because of culture. We have a culture of hospitality, we have a culture of telling the truth, and we have a culture of helping each other, and that is why we have these scholastic materials today.”
The Panda Pack Project provides in total 1,800 school bags,10 buckets of disinfectants, 35 oxygen generators, 480 bottles of prickly heat powder, 180 pairs of children’s shoes, 180 bottles of shampoo, children toys, and 12,000 facemasks.
Each Panda Pack for a pupil consists of a school bag, some basic stationery, art supplies, educational toys, and some daily necessities.