The Poplar Tree Farm Project officially began in 2008. It is supported by the Raybin Q. Wong Foundation. The project plans to plant 1000 mu (in two phases, about 500 mu in 2008 and an equal amount in 2010) of poplar trees on land provided gratis by the township, and build a 20 mu nursery for saplings. This will generate sufficient income to support students and education programs. In May 2009, Ms. Shao from the Wong Foundation visited the project site and discussed the farm development and solutions for replacing dead saplings, which did not survive the long cold winter. The Yifan Forestry Co. provided 10000 saplings in the spring, and the newly planted saplings look good. (more details..)

Summary of 2009 Inner-city Kids in China Program New

From June 22 to July 6, 2009, the 4th Inner-city Kids in China program has once again brought 10 students and 3 teachers from Snowden International School to China. This travel-study program is a summer scholarship-based program funded by the Freeman Foundation and operated by the Phelex Foundation. The participants were selected from Chinese students attending Snowden. As the scholarship recipients, the 7 juniors, 2 sophomores and 1 freshman will share their life changing experience with the Snowden community in the fall. ( more details..)

UPM/Phelex Poplar Tree Farm in Qiaocun, Henan Province update

The Poplar Tree Farm aims at planting a large poplar tree forest in Qiaocun, Yichuan County in Henan Province. 600 students, teachers and parents dug 2100 ground holes and applied fertilizer to prepare for poplar tree planting in mid February 2008 when the weather was still cold. In the spring, saplings were planted. After a year of growth, some unhealthy trees need to be replaced, and Beijing Yifan Forestry Co. provided 16000 saplings to the project. ( more details..)

The UPM/Phelex Water Well project provides funds for drilling a well in Pozhao village, Heyang County in Shananxi Province, where there has been a severe water shortage. Once the drilling finished, water will become easily accessible for the whole village. While villagers pay less than half of what they pay currently for water, the school receives a sustainable source of income to help pay for students' school costs.The well drilling officially begun in December 20, 2007. After more than a year, overcoming many difficulties the drilling is still continuing. On July 22, once again the drill was stuck by a collapse of a coal seam underground at 468 meters deep, and the community council was determined to make every effort to resume the drilling.(more details..)