Father defends ‘rich kids’ charity initiative
Print Edition
THE father of schoolboys who set up a fund to help disadvantaged children has hit back at critics who accuse his sons of being rich kids playing at charity work.
Brothers Wei Congtai, 14, and Wei Qitai, 9, hit the headlines when they and 14-year-old classmate Yang Hang donated 500,000 yuan (US$81,760) they received as gifts to found a student charity fund.
The money will be used to help primary and middle school students who are underprivileged or have conditions such as autism or visual or hearing impairments.
But critics claimed that the boys’ wealthy family gave them the money to use charity work as “a game” to show off their wealth.
Speaking exclusively to Shanghai Daily yesterday, the boys’ entrepreneur father Wei Baolong said his sons were unperturbed by the criticism.
“My sons didn’t give too much thought to the negative comments, but are instead focusing on managing the fund to help the needy” he said.
“Charity has nothing to do with being rich or poor; it’s about doing or not doing.”
He said that the fund — of which Wei Congtai is chairman — will help educate his sons in helping others.
“As more Chinese families get rich, many parents are thinking about how to educate their children to be a useful person, instead of someone relying on the fruits of their parents’ wealth. This is my way.
“Charity is a very good way to help children gain positive energy and grow to be a contributor to society.
“As my children grow up in a wealthy family, I hope they can see the difficulties faced by other families and help others,” he said.
And as China becomes wealthier, Wei Baolong predicted that such charitable acts will attract less notice.
“What has happened with us won’t be a big deal in the future.”
The Wei brothers and Yang Hang, students at Shanghai World Language Primary and Middle School, launched the fund under the Shanghai Charity Foundation on October 31.
Wei Congtai is in charge of monitoring the use of funds and tracking projects. The others are committee members.
Wei Baolong said his sons were surprised to learn how much money they had amassed in “lucky gift” money over the years and immediately agreed when he suggested in June that they use it to help others.
The elder brother got Yang Hang involved.
Learn their stories
The 500,000 yuan was saved from money given by family at New Year and other special occasions like birthdays.
Wei Congtai, donated 250,000 yuan, Wei Qitai gave 200,000 yuan and Yang Hang contributed 50,000 yuan.
For the first batch of beneficiaries, 30 children in Shanghai will receive a total of 80,000 yuan. Half are students from poor families and the rest have visual or hearing impairments.
Wei Baolong said the beneficiaries’ details came from the Shanghai Charity Foundation.
“The three children will not only give away money, but go and visit the students they help to learn their stories and learn from those who study well despite poor family conditions.”
Wei Baolong said his sons were busy studying for mid-week exams so would not be available for interview.
Fang Guoping, secretary general of the Shanghai Charity Foundation, said there is no law in China barring a minor from being the chairperson of a special fund.
“The special fund is not an organization and has no legal personality,” Fang said. “It is set up for a specific use and is run by a management committee to decide how to use the fund.
“The child has the right to sign for a decision. In this case, we encourage the parents to help them as the fund has just started,” Fang said.
In future, the three children can continue to donate their lucky gift money.
“I totally understand that people can have different opinions on the fund,” said Wei Baolong.
“As a relatively well-off family, we’re doing what we are capable of to help others. And so can other people.”
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