A special fund to care for the education, health and life of children between birth and when they are 16 years old in poverty-stricken areas was set up by the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation and CapitaLand Hope Foundation China.

The two foundations signed the cooperation agreement of this special fund on Wednesday.

The CapitaLand Hope Foundation China, which was established in 2011 by CapitaLand, one of the largest real estate groups in Asia, donated about 3.5 million yuan ($572,000) to the foundation to launch the fund.

The special fund has several programs. One will build primary schools in 12 provinces across the nation. It also provides professional rehabilitation therapies and medical support to handicapped children and backpacks and school supplies to students in the first grade.