$1.4m photography program launched in Beijing

A 10 million yuan ($1.4 million) program aimed at assisting photographers who work with charities nationwide was launched at the China Millennium Monument in Beijing on July 12.

The program, Ganguang Plan (Touch by Light Plan) was initiated by the China Photographers Association, with an investment by popular Chinese news website Toutiao. They joined hands with the China Social Welfare Foundation, China Charities Aid Foundation for Children, and China Population Welfare Foundation to raise money for people in need, such as impoverished families and people with cancer.

"The initiative is calling for professionals and photography lovers to pick up their cameras to capture people's lives, to warm and inspire people using their images, and to become photographers with faith and social responsibility," said Du Jin, speaking for the China Photographers Association.

Yan Zhigang, photo operations director of Toutiao news, said that the program plans to recruit no less than 100 photographers nationwide with at least 10,000 yuan ($1,500) financial aid per month and 120,000 ($17,900) per year.

Photographers are expected to have solid photographic and writing skills, be capable of telling accurate and truthful stories, and also have compassion for the public. Selected photographers are expected to accomplish a certain number of stories, depending on need.

Charity photographer Bo Gaopeng, who publishes photo stories on Toutiao under the account "微言薄語(Weiyanboyu)", said that since 2016 his team has been working on public welfare photography to assist the China Social Welfare Foundation Project 919. This and the Children's Emergency Relief Project 9958 have raised nearly 20 million yuan ($30 million) for 90 families in the country.

For charity enthusiasts like Bo, the new photography project is a chance to bring more photographers to join and contribute to a cause that benefits all.

Wang Qiao contributed to this story