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Steel-plated structures act as temporary classrooms in Jiange
The once laughter-splashed campus has now become a debris-crammed site with a mountain of broken desks, lines of tents and dozens of steel-bar beds.
On May 25, World Vision together with the officials of the Jiange Education Bureau inspected the disastrous situation of an affected school. The group extended their condolences to the teachers and students who stayed in the school.
Though the school building has not collapsed completely, the damage is severe. Much repair work is needed before normal operation can resume. Signboards stating “pull down” are posted everywhere. There is no admittance into the school buildings because of the dangerous conditions. Teachers who used to live in the school no longer have a home to return to. They are now spending their days in the tents temporarily set up on a playground.
With school suspended, the affected children spend their days in the desolate campus. Their only game now is running among the tents that were set up by the school.
During the assessment, Xiao Fan, a boarding student explained to our relief worker about the steel-bar beds that the students slept on, “One bed for two persons…” When asked about what he wanted the most, without a second of hesitation, he answered, “Having class!” We also asked some girls, “How about a new place for classes?” They shouted in joy, “YES!” And bright big smiles immediately covered their faces.
Education is the right of each child. Especially after disasters, it is of fundamental importance and is also imperative to let children resume their normal living as soon as possible. World Vision has discussed the correlated reconstruction plans with Jiange Education Bureau. The plans include subsidies to the authority to procure steel-plate structures as temporary classrooms for 5,000 students.
In addition, World Vision actively deliberated with the officials on cooperative school rebuilding projects. Both parties will also continue discussion on activities before school resumption. It is hoped that through games and activities, children will be able to ease their pain, stress and sadness, and would regain laughter that was once lost.
The 8.0 earthquake that occurred in Wenchuan, Sichuan on 12 May has affected the entire Jiange County, Guangyuan City. A total of 161 schools have been affected, and all the primary and secondary schools have had to suspend classes for an undetermined period of time. About 100,000 students have no schools to go to. Furthermore, the 6.4 aftershock which took place in Qingchuan County on 25 May aggravated the destruction.
'This is Home Now’ World Vision temporary shelters provide a safe haven for quake-survivors
‘Ziyun’ village is a picture of gloom and despair, a far cry from the images of natural grace and beauty conjured up by its meaning: ‘purple cloud’.
Sichuan is a place known for its resplendent scenic beauty, but what greeted World Vision relief staff members was a panoramic landscape totally devoid and stripped of its former grandeur; the quake stricken province was ravaged by nature’s forces beyond recognition. The air ached with a sense of sadness and hopelessness. Elderly men and womenfolk tried their best to scavenge what little miserly items they could find - a crooked piece of metal, a dented washing bowl, a Chinese face mask - anything they could stumble on and uncover to bring back some form of comfort and meaning to their life.
This little known village, located in the mountainous recesses of Hongyan Township of the Yuanba District, was badly hit by the Sichuan earthquake, changing and devastating many a lives living there on May 12.
Amongst Ziyun village are four sub-groups forming the San Qing Village (三青村). The third sub-group of this village was the worst-hit. More than 43 out of the 47 houses there were totally wrecked and in shambles, the foundation of the village shook to the very core. Many walls came crashing down, leaving the area, once teeming with life from its population of 158 people, in great distress.
The latter remaining homes were not in good shape and have been regarded unfit for living in. The magnitude of destruction was so massive in this sub-group that it is now regarded by the local government as one of the worst-affected areas.
Cai De Guo is one of the many living in this sub-group. Now 68 years old, he recounted the terrifying day which took away nearly all of his possessions. Pointing to what looked like the remnants of bent metal, he related the harrowing experience.
‘I was having an afternoon nap on this bed when it happened,’ he said. ‘The grounds were shaking and all my furniture was swaying. I saw my wife sleeping on the sofa and I dragged her out to the open ground outside. Just when I turned my back around, the walls of the house started collapsing. I didn’t have the time to salvage anything,’ mourned Cai.
‘Despite the harsh, bumpy and mountainous travel routes, World Vision came to our aid by providing each of us quilts to battle the cold and a temporary shelter to house us. This is where we live, eat and sleep. This is home now. Thank you World Vision for helping us during this difficult time,’ nodded Cai appreciatively.
The losses continue to be great for the quake survivors from this small village. People like Cai who have been rendered homeless are now dependent upon World Vision to rebuild their homes and lives.
Since the onset of the Sichuan earthquake, World Vision has distributed more than 6,700 tarpaulins and 11,700 quilts to families hit by the quake. World Vision plans to distribute a total of 1,813 tents, 9,000 tarpaulins, 33,000 quilts and 1,003,335 kg of food grains benefiting 216,409 people as part of its emergency relief distribution.
In addition, World Vision also plans to help build 5,000 houses for the quake victims, benefiting 20,000 people.
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