Lloyd’s primary school receives further £50,000

A primary school in the remote Yunnan province of China will welcome an extra 120 students this year when a new dormitory is built, funded by a £50,000 donation from Lloyd’s China and its syndicates.

The Lloyd’s School is the main primary school for the region, educating pupils who would otherwise have to journey up to five hours on foot.

In 2007, Lloyd’s donated £50,000 to build the school for the village of Pingba, Laomeng which had relocated after flooding and mudslides. Five Lloyd’s China syndicates (Catlin, Ace, Starr, Travelers, and Navigators) have now donated £25,000 collectively – which has been matched by Lloyd’s – for a dormitory to be built.

Lord Peter Levene, Chairman of Lloyd’s, said:

“Lloyd’s is delighted to be able to help the school further. We recognise the importance of investing in the economic and social infrastructure of a country, and see this as part of our long lasting commitment to China.”

Ms Ou Boqian, Deputy Director General, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said:

“We highly appreciate this second donation and the efforts that Lloyd’s China has made. Every cent of this money will go to good use. But it is not the money itself, but the people at Lloyd’s dedication to poverty alleviation that is moving.”

The school has eight classrooms and can accommodate 280 children from Laomeng and its surrounding villages. The day to day running of the school will be undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who began to raise funds for the people in this poor and remote area of the Yunnan province in 1992.