Kathmandu : Alibaba Philanthropy and China Foundation for Rural Development Donate Sports Kits to Nepali Youth
At the Lumbini International Peace Festival reception dinner, the China Foundation for Rural Development, with the support of Alibaba Philanthropy, launched the “Panda Pack Sports Kit Project” in Nepal, providing sports kits to Nepali youth.
The sports kits were officially handed over in the presence of Nepal’s Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Hon. Badri Pandey; the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Hon. Chen Song; and the Chief Executive Officer of the Nepal Tourism Board, Mr. Deepak Raj Joshi.
On this occasion, Zou Zhiqiang, Director of the Nepal Office of the China Foundation for Rural Development, handed over a donation check worth approximately NPR 280 million (equivalent to 15 million RMB) to Mr. Jeevan Ram Shrestha, President of the Nepal Olympic Committee, to support around 1,500 sports kits. This donation aims to enhance sports activities for students in 200 government schools across Nepal.
The donated sports kits include footballs, volleyballs, basketballs, table tennis paddles and balls, badminton rackets and shuttlecocks, jump ropes, portable air pumps, training cones, training vests, frisbees, and whistles.
This project is designed to encourage the Olympic spirit among Nepali youth. Director Zou Zhiqiang stated, “We hope these sports kits will inspire Nepali youth to develop a passion for sports, enhance the role of sports in Nepal’s overall education system, and support the Nepal Olympic Committee in promoting the Olympic spirit among primary and secondary school students. We also believe that these kits will create more opportunities for sports education and activities in Nepali schools, thereby contributing to the growth of physical education in Nepal and fostering future talents with healthy bodies and positive spirits.”
Similarly, the President of the Nepal Olympic Committee, Mr. Jeevan Ram Shrestha, expressed gratitude for the generous donation from Alibaba Philanthropy and the China Foundation for Rural Development. He stated, “This valuable gift will significantly contribute to the development of youth sports in Nepal. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the China Foundation for Rural Development to further advance sports in Nepal.”
Earlier, the China Foundation for Rural Development visited 10 government schools in the Nepal-India border region of Lumbini and distributed 60 sports kits, benefiting around 6,000 students. This initiative aimed to provide border-region youth with opportunities to engage in sports, promoting the expansion and development of physical education. In addition to distributing the sports kits, the foundation organized various sports competitions and exchange activities, including football friendly matches, basketball skill challenges, jump rope contests, and team-building games, which saw enthusiastic participation from students.
At the Lumbini International Peace Festival marathon, organized by the Nepal Olympic Committee, the China Foundation for Rural Development distributed backpacks featuring the logos of Alibaba Philanthropy and the Nepal Olympic Committee to participating students from government schools in Lumbini.
In 2019, the China Foundation for Rural Development and Alibaba Philanthropy jointly launched the International Panda Pack Project, aiming to support primary school students in underdeveloped areas of developing countries. By the end of 2024, this initiative had benefited more than 270,000 students in over 2,000 government schools across 70 districts in Nepal.
In 2024, the project was upgraded with the introduction of the “Sports Kit” initiative, along with a series of cultural exchange programs, to further strengthen friendship between China and participating countries. This initiative seeks to inspire students to actively participate in sports, acquire essential life skills, and develop key values beneficial to both athletics and personal growth. By promoting teamwork and perseverance, the project aims to instill a lasting sports spirit in young people.
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