BEIJING, May 27 (Xinhua) -- A child-welfare project was initiated Sunday to present drama performances for pupils in one thousand schools in China's rural areas in five years.

Under the project funded by China Next Generation Education Foundation, children dramas or stage plays will be performed each year in 200 country schools, to entertain mainly children left behind at home by their parents working in the cities.

The project is regarded as a gift for children as the June 1 International Children's Day is approaching.

It is expected to benefit 1 million children in rural areas, who have little chance watching drama performance at theaters.

On Sunday, a stage play was presented at China Children's Art Theater as an celebration of this day in Beijing for nearly 600 children of migrant workers and ethnic minority families, and children from overseas.