In addition, teachers at the school are invited to receive training at Volkswagen plants and students work as interns. Yang said improving local education is more important than merely providing financial support to help less developed areas.

"These areas are more short of well-trained professionals compared with developed regions.

"The key is to teach the youth how to fish rather than give them fish," she said.

Yang said her company will introduce the program into other less-developed regions together with the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

Throughout its 30 years as a major force in China's auto industry, Volkswagen has been helping drive sustainable development through corporate social responsibility in mobility, environmental initiatives and taking care of people.

"We have set up a department dedicated to CSR programs, probably the first and only in China's auto industry," said Yang, explaining the move as "practical".

In addition to the Rainbow Bridge Project, it has started a number of other programs in China including the Green Future Environmental Education Initiative and the Child Safety Initiative, which aims to raise awareness of child road safety and proper use of child safety seats across the country.

Yang said she hopes Volkswagen customers and society as a whole will acknowledge the automaker's sincerity and benefit from its efforts.

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