NGO+private company?
The China-Africa Hope Project was jointly launched by the WECBA and the CYDF on December 18, 2010, with the former chaired by Lu's father.
Wang Xiaoshan, a manager at Sharpens Iron Books, twittered Wednesday that the WECBA is in fact a private company founded in June 2005, which soon led many followers to wonder why the CYDF chose to work with a private firm.
When asked whether the WECBA will benefit from the project, Lu Xingyu's secretary denied that the WECBA is responsible for raising funds, and that it is the CYDF who collects and manages the donations.
The CYDF also stressed that its cooperation with the WECBA is for public benefit, not commercial needs.
Why not China?
Netizens have wondered why hope schools are being built abroad while many kids in China are still suffering from insufficient classrooms.
Tu Meng, secretary-general of the CYDF, explained that "the donations are specifically for hope schools in Africa," and some donators left their money to the CYDF in the hope of helping Africans in urgent need.
Tu added that the CYDF has been and will always be focused on providing financial assistance in China, and remain committed to arousing public attention to the children of migrant workers.
Lu also noted in her micoblog that "Love is boundless. African countries are good friends of China, therefore it is our responsibility to help the drop-outs there. The Chinese government has established 100 schools in Africa and gained praise from the whole world. Following such a good example, some kind-hearted businessmen have volunteered to donate to hope schools there. These are good deeds and deserve our applause."
