Asiana Airlines has completed a three-year effort to secure “sisterhood” ties with underprivileged schools in 22 Chinese cities where the carrier operates flights.

As the final project for its corporate social responsibility program “Beautiful Class,” the company on Tuesday held a ceremony at a small school in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejian province.

On the day, the company donated various items, including 45 PCs, 1,000 books, a piano and 200 miniature airplanes, while its flight attendants delivered special lectures on their jobs for the students. 

“The sisterhood with Asiana will become an opportunity to suggest a new vision to our students,” said the school president. “We especially appreciate the mentoring class, which will help children nurture their dreams.”

In 2012, Asiana, in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency, launched Beautiful Class as part of its enhanced social responsibility activities in China.

With the aim of setring up one sister school in every city where it operates flights, the company has secured ties with 22 schools. The company currently operates 30 routes from 22 Chinese cities.

According to the company, more than 800 PCs and 14,000 books worth 930 million won ($836,000) have been donated over the past three years. Some 20,000 students have benefited from the program.

“Beautiful Class aims to support underprivileged schools and their students so that they find new hopes and dreams,” said Moon Myung-young, the airline’s chief of Chinese operations.

“Even though the program has ended, Asiana will continue to expand its CSR efforts in China,” he said, hinting that the program could be carried out in other Asian countries in the future.

Asiana has stepped up CSR activities in China, one of the airline’s most crucial markets.

The company has collected donations on a regular basis to help resolve drought issues in western China or offer scholarships to young students from low-income families.

Since 2010, the company has supported the relatives of late independence fighter Ahn Jong-geun in the northeastern city of Harbin and set up a memorial hall for him there.

Shortly after a fatal earthquake hit Sichuan province in 2013, the airline participated in the relief operation, and made a $200,000 donation.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)