Aid and the Chinese economy

Year level: Upper secondary Learning outcome Students review and assess the Australian aid-funded Qinghai project in China, which aimed to develop skills in the market economy Read the case study Aid and the Chinese economy: the Qinghai community development project Explain how the following problems in the Qinghai Province kept the population trapped in poverty: poor infrastructure subsistence agriculture no access to credit Design a flow chart demonstrating how the Qinghai aid project was able to 'kick-start' a cash economy. List the project's achievements under its economic, social and health goals. Identify the links between these goals and explain why they are interrelated. Investigate the differences in income between rural and urban China. On a map identify the poorest and wealthiest provinces. Identify and explain the problems which could arise for China if the current imbalance is not reduced. Imagine you are helping to 'train the trainers' in a project similar to the one in the case study. Working in pairs, design a series of flip charts explaining the benefits that the villagers will gain from improved infrastructure, access to credit, experimentation with new crops, and trade with other regions. These will help you assist the local officials to make a presentation to an isolated village community with a high level of illiteracy. Devise a series of strategies for the local trainers to ensure that the villagers are encouraged to participate in the discussions and contribute their own ideas for the future. Simulate a village meeting, with the students playing a variety of roles. Summarise the affects of the Qinghai aid project on the following: the allocation of the four resources the influence of market forces economic performance in the region China's relationship with Australia. Select three of the skills local officials learnt through the ‘train the trainer’ program and explain how these could be applied for the future assistance of the province. Assessment task Write a report of the project, making a recommendation for the expansion, continuation or conclusion of this project.