Social support

Official statistics show that China currently has 85 million people living with disabilities. The country is striving for a xiaokang society, or a moderately well-off society, by 2020, and in this plan people with disabilities are regarded as key “participants, constructors and beneficiaries” of such a society. Job creation is among the key efforts of the government to help people living with disabilities lead a better life, and the Internet-based e-commerce opportunities are helping boost their employment rates.

On December 10, 2015, the CDPF and Alibaba cooperatively launched the Achieving Future program to promote employment for people living with disabilities in China. It set goals to devote 300 million yuan ($46 million) over the next five years toward people living with disabilities’ training along with the creation of 50,000 Internet-related job opportunities.

“The Internet is a gateway for many people living with disabilities to engage in society,” said Zhang Haidi, Chairwoman of the CDPF, adding that the e-commerce platform is a seed that encourages people living with disabilities to work.

Comments to xyy@chinafrica.cn