LHASA, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region is seeking an environmentally friendly model of poverty alleviation by raising funds for poor students through waste paper recycling.

Twenty needy students from Shuanghu County in the hinterland of Tibet, the world's highest county with an average elevation of 5,000 meters, started their summer learning in the regional capital Lhasa on Wednesday, with their costs covered by the proceeds of recycled paper.

"It is my first time in Lhasa, and I'd like to have a look at the Potala Palace," said Losang Gyacan, a fifth grader. The students will also enjoy a drone show and visit the Tibet Museum of Natural Science.

The public welfare program was co-launched by the Tibet Charity Federation and Yixing Social Service Center, a local non-profit organization.

Wang Tao, Yixing's founder, said that the money raised through recycling will also be used to provide free tutoring every weekend to poor students in several communities in Lhasa, Xigaze and other cities in the region.

As of early July, 39 public institutions and social enterprises have responded to the program and collected nearly 40,000 kg of waste paper, raising more than 35,000 yuan (about 5,092 U.S. dollars).

"With the support of social sectors, it is worthwhile to explore this model of 'recycling for poverty alleviation' to improve education," said Hu Yong, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China Shuanghu County Committee.