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A brief overview of a year's work in China

Over the past year Plan China has been involved in various ways to promote the 'voice of the child' and has supported various projects for the improvement and development of the situation in China.

China has been involved in the process of completing all negotiations and agreements necessary for entry into the World Trade Organisation. There is still concern on how this agreement will affect the lives of the rural poor, but the agricultural sector will certainly change a great deal once the World Trade Organisation rules come into effect, creating new problems and new opportunities for the communities that Plan works with.

In addition to World Trade Organisation entry, the country has also been focusing on the Western Initiative, which aims to encourage foreign and domestic investment and economic expansion that will equalise the huge gap between the wealthy coastal areas and the poor western regions of China.

As part of the preparations for the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children, a National Children's Forum was held in China. Six children, one from each of the various areas Plan works within China, were among the fifty children who participated in the event and they all found it a wonderful and fascinating experience. This was only one of many efforts by Plan to increase the participation of children both within our program areas and in external forums. It's important to us that children have their say on the issues that affect them, and Plan's work promotes participation at both local, national and international levels.

Plan China hosted the East Asia and Pacific Region's Fifth Ministerial Consultation for Children in Beijing. The outcome document, the Beijing Declaration sets some admiral goals for the East Asia and Pacific Region over the next ten years. Plan's efforts to ensure the inclusion of children's participation and birth registration are important elements of the Declaration.

The country also focused a lot of effort and attention on its bid for Beijing to host the Summer Olympics in 2008. In July 2001, China celebrated when they were successful in becoming the 2008 host country.

Plan in Yanqing

Plan is preparing to 'phase out' of the area of Yanqing within the next three years. This means that we have achieved what we set out to do in the area, and that our projects and improvements to local infrastructure have ensured this area no longer needs Plan's help. Local children, women and community members of Yanqing have developed objectives to ensure Plan projects continue once Plan leaves, to guide them and Plan during the three-year phase-out process, which is an exciting time of transition, expected to be completed by the end of 2004. Plan is always sad to say goodbye, but joyful because our goals have been realised. We have made a difference to future generations, and so it's time also to celebrate!

Children's and women's health

With our partner, the China National Committee for the Care of Children (CNCCC), we produced seven booklets on various aspects of children and women's health. The booklets combine indigenous knowledge on health together with modern techniques. The booklets have been very popular and much appreciated and there is a lot of demand for them in other parts of China.

The Plan China Health team began producing and distributing a quarterly newsletter covering a wide-range of health issues. The newsletter has become very popular. Also, a three-year calendar highlighting some important aspects of women's development was distributed and can be found proudly displayed in many places in our program areas.

This round-up was a representation of the many projects that Plan have been involved with throughout China.