Welcome to Phelex Foundation Website!---Xiabao Elementary School, Yidu City, Hubei

Xiabao Elementary School

The Rosasco Greenhouse

Facts about school:

Tuition and fees per year	RMB 276 ($33.7)	Per capita annual income	RMB 680 ($82) in 1996
Number of teachers	18	Number of students	310
Location	Yidu City, Hubei Province (Click for Map)

School and project photos:


Students at Xiabao School pick up new text books paid by the Founda- tion's tuition assistance program supported by Mr. Rosasco.		Students and teachers at Xiabao School are thinning out seedlings inside the Rosasco greenhouse.

Project developments:

The Phelex Foundation funded the project in partnership with the village and local government in 1997. Xiabao School built Rosasco vegetable and flower greenhouse. The Foundation provided tuition assistance to 5% students, and among them 31% were girls.
In February 1998, three greenhouses were completed for flower plants and a tea garden was ready for new tea plants. In April, garden irrigation system was installed. In May some flowers and vegetables were ready for sale.
In October 1998, Mr. Rosasco visited the school and provided financial support to a student's family who was among the poorest but the best student in school. (Please see more about Mr. Rosasco) Mr. Rosasco also helped establish a Nutritious Lunch program aimed at providing two eggs and two 3 ounces meat per child/teacher per week.
In April 1999, the tea processing facility was completed, funded by the Foundation and Mr. Rosasco. All the plants grew well.
In August 1999, the project could not make profit. The local government decided to give Xiabao Elementary School additional 3 mu land to expand the tea garden.
In April 2000, the sale of flowers earned an income, which helped sustain tuition aid program for needy students. (see the chart below)
The healthy accounting system played an important role in managing the Rosasco Greenhouse. The Community Council announced all accounts and tuition aid distribution to the public, which won the trust of parents and villagers.
In Apr. 2000, the program sold some flowers and funded some needy pupils.
The transparent and open financial system played an important role in the program management. Villagers' participation increased the transparency of program management, harmonized the relationship between the school and villagers, and improved education environment.
On 3 Apr. 2002, Cong yang, a needy pupil, was exempted from RMB 443.9 tuition fees. Besides. The program sold sapling to the Public Health Bureau of Yidu to the value of RMB 2, 500 , the Public Health Bureau provided 100 health book bags and a lot of stationery instead of cash.
In Mar. 2003, the program sold flowers, supported 29 pupils and offered RMB 788 tuition aid fund .

Tuition Aid Received by:

Year	Tuition aid amount	Number of beneficiaries
1998	RMB 980	38
1999	RMB 1,350	18
2000	RMB 11,402	578
2001	RMB 9,852	289
2002	RMB 443.90	7
2003	RMB 788	29


		The weekly nutrition supplement program at Xiabao provides each of 310 pupils with 2 ounces of meat and 2 eggs. These meals can be tasty, too.
Mr.Rosasco with a student and his father. (more about Mr. Rosasco)