Students read books in Lhasa No. 1 Primary School in Lhasa, capital of SW China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 1, 2016. (Xinhua/Liu Dongjun)

LHASA, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Tibet Autonomous Region in southwest China is raising funds for poor students through waste paper recycling.

Twenty underprivileged students from Shuanghu County in the hinterland of Tibet, the world's highest county with an average elevation of 5,000 meters, started summer classes 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 visit the Potala Palace," said Losang Gyacan, a fifth grader.

The students also have a drone show and a visit the Tibet Museum of Natural Science to look forward to.

The public welfare program is the brainchild of Tibet Charity Federation and Yixing Social Service Center, a local non-profit organization.

Yixing founder Wang Tao said that the money raised through recycling will also be used to provide free weekend tutoring for 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 collected nearly 40,000 kg of waste paper, raising more than 35,000 yuan (about 5,092 U.S. dollars).

"The support of our social sectors makes this model of 'recycling for poverty alleviation' to improve education, really worthwhile" said Hu Yong, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China Shuanghu County Committee.