Guangzhou-based property giant offers $460m to improve the quality of life for poverty-stricken locals

Evergrande Real Estate Group Co, a Guangzhou-based property conglomerate in Guangdong province, has pledged 3 billion yuan ($460 million) to Dafang county - a poverty-stricken area in Guizhou province - to help improve conditions for 180,000 of its most-impoverished residents.

The company has already launched 40 major projects and 200 programs in the county, focused on the building of agriculture and husbandry facilities. It will also help build new homes, hospitals and nursing homes, as well as create jobs and offer educational opportunities.

Xia Haijun, Evergrande's chief executive, said many of Dafang's residents still live a difficult life in remote and mountainous areas.

"Some live in homes with thatched roofs that are difficult to protect from strong winds. They cannot afford to eat meat outside of annual festivals.

"Children have to spend two to three hours a day walking across mountains to get to school. We were so shocked to see this," said Xia.

"Traditional ways of poverty alleviation mostly emphasize the donation of money and daily supplies, which cannot solve these very real problems."

Instead of giving money, the methods his company adopt focus on creating opportunities, he said.

The latest nationwide statistics show there are 70 million people still living in poverty in China, and another 200 million people who are 60 years old or above.

There are also nearly 61 million so-called "left-behind" children living in rural villages - children whose parents go to cities in search for work away from home.

Xia said Evergrande officials have been discussing the plans with Guizhou authorities for months, and have come up with a program of targeted measures to help the poorest residents.

"For the young people in Dafang, for instance, who want to work but lack professional skills, we will organize training to equip them with the necessary skills," Xia said.

"Within the next three years, we also plan to offer work to 30,000 local residents, at Evergrande branches, in jobs including property and hotel management."

One of the first Dafang residents already working for the company is Deng Zhiyu, who has a job in property management, along with his wife.

Xu Tianshu contributed to this story.