FedEx Express, one of the world's largest express transportation companies, announced its partnership with the Audiology Development Foundation of China (ADFC) on Thursday to launch FedEx Hearing Aids for Children.

Li Heqi, party secretary of Xi'an Disabled Persons Federation, Eddy Chan, senior vice president of FedEx China, and Chang An-Tien,?deputy secretary of ADFC, attended the event held in the Xi'an No.2 Deaf and Mute Special School.

Targeting three western China cities over a three-year period through a FedEx donation of 1 million yuan, the program will provide advanced hearing aids to children with hearing difficulties from poor families so that they can communicate and learn in a normal social setting.

Xi'an, capital of Northwest Shaanxi province, is the first city to benefit from FedEx Hearing Aids for Children. Thanks to the support from the Xi'an Disabled Persons' Federation, a preliminary audio screening was held for children aged between 6 and 15 from low-income families.

Twenty-four children were identified as appropriate candidates for customized binaural hearing aids. These advanced hearing aids were custom fitted for each child and will help improve the quality of their lives by enabling them to interact and function in the hearing world.

These 24 children attended the launch ceremony, and a group of FedEx volunteers from Xi'an helped them put on their customized hearing aids. The volunteers then encouraged the children to get actively involved in school and society.

"We are glad to see that the first phase of FedEx Hearing Aids for Children in Xi'an has enabled?children with hearing difficulties to hear and feel the care and warmth of society," noted Chang An-Tien from ADFC.

"We look forward to continued cooperation with FedEx as we unfold the program in western China so more deaf children are given the gift of sound."

"It is a great pleasure for FedEx to launch FedEx Hearing Aids for Children together with ADFC," said Eddy Chan, senior vice president, FedEx China.

"FedEx is committed to exploring new ways to help disadvantaged groups, particularly children who are our future. We look forward to giving more children the ability to hear."

One of the parent representatives expressed her gratitude on behalf of the families of the 24 children,

"As a mother of a hearing-impaired child, I would like to thank FedEx, ADFC and the Xi'an Disabled Persons' Federation for improving the hearing of my child. Without their support, my family would not have the means to afford the custom-made hearing aids and my child would have missed the opportunity to hear. "

"We give our heartfelt thanks to FedEx and ADFC for launching this program which will change the lives of?many children by restoring their ability hear, and enable them to lead a normal life."

Over the next two years, FedEx Hearing Aids for Children will expand to Chengdu in Sichuan Province and Yinchuan in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, bringing the gift of sound to more children in western China.