Elion turns the Kubuqi Desert into an oasis (2)

Clean, tidy and well furnished, Babu’s house has a floor area of 106 m2. With the Chinese character “fu” (meaning blessing or happiness) hanging everywhere, it retains the festive atmosphere of the Chinese new year. You would hardly believe that 10 years ago they were living in a shabby dwelling built of straw and clay, and earned their living by farming. In 2006, Elion and the government of Hangjin Banner invested about 20,000,000 yuan (U.S. $2,940,000) in free shelters for 36 impoverished households. They also provided training to get the farmers and herdsmen involved in developing local tourism. [Photo by Yang Jia]