An innovative charity challenge, the third edition of its kind, kicked off in early March,aiming to inspire Chinese youth to join in volunteering and charitable undertakings.

The challenge was hosted by both Tingyi Holding Corp., a company particularly famous for its Master Kong instant noodle brand, as well as the prestigious Japanese Waseda University.

Under the slogan "Small Charity, Big Impact", the contest stresses how young people should make their own efforts to assist others, help society advance, and gradually get more involved in charity work.

Participants are encouraged to submit their charity programs for panel reviews on their creative ideas regarding public welfare, such as environmental protection, disability support, and disaster relief.

Finalists will be awarded 10,000 yuan (US$1,587) to launch their own charity programs on a five-week term, whereas this year’s winner will receive 100,000 yuan (US$15,873) to put into action his/her charity program on a full-year term.

Those who possess a strong sense of social responsibility, and an extraordinary capability to promote charity causes, will also win the opportunity to pursue their post-graduate studies at the highly-reputed Waseda University, on a two-year scholarship of 6 million yen (471,180 yuan).

In October 2009, Tingyi announced that, over the next five years, it would spend 180 million yuan (US$28.6 million) to support 425 Chinese students in pursuing further studies at the world’s most prestigious universities.