Airline and university combine forces to combat poverty

Spring Airlines and Shanghai Open University on Monday announced that they will be launching an education and skills training program to help combat poverty in Honghe Hani and the Yi autonomous prefecture of Yunnan province.

The initiative will allow local residents to work at the Shanghai-based airliner after passing an education program that spans two and a half years.

"The project combines college education and skills training, which is a new model of poverty alleviation by Spring Airlines and Shanghai Open University. The employment of one member will pull the whole family out of poverty," said Wang Yu, chairman of Spring Airlines.

Students who qualify for the program will not have to pay tuition fees and are granted free lodging by the air transport institute of Shanghai Open University. Spring Airlines will also provide one-way air tickets for students to attend university courses in Shanghai.

The project is part of Spring Airlines' poverty relief activities that were initiated in 2018.