Following are some comments from students who were victims of the Sichuan Earthquake and who received student grants:
“I am a student from the Class of 2007 at the School of Nursing of Chengdu University studying Traditional Chinese Medicine in Chengdu, Sichuan. I come from a poor family in a rural village. My father has leg disabilities and has lost his ability to work. My parents farm on some infertile land for a living. Our family suffered severe loss from the earthquake in 2008. Our house was seriously damaged and we could no longer live there.”
“I love what I study and I excel in it. I actively take part in various extra-curricular activities and enjoy serving teams and my classmates. I participated in arts activities and won a team award in the first half of 2009. In September, we launched orientation programs for new students. I joined our university’s Table Tennis Club and was the chairperson of the organizing committee. I would love to take part in more post-earthquake voluntary services in earthquake-stricken areas in my spare time.”
“The student grant allows me to maintain my basic living. I can buy books and focus on my studies to pave way for my career. The student grant also offers me strong mental support. It boosted my confidence in embracing the future.”
Li Ka-shing Foundation’s work in earthquake-stricken areas in Sichuan included psychological counseling training for teachers. Following are some of the teachers’ comments:
Mr. Lu Hai from Enyang Secondary School in Bazhou said: “The training provided by experts was brilliant. It simply wasn’t enough to listen to them just once. I want more.”
Mr. Zhang Hongzheng from Heqing Secondary School in Anxian believed that the training was inspirational and it had strengthened his vision in his work.
Ms. Jin Kaiju from Boya Town Secondary School in Langzhong said: “The training was written in my heart. It was an excellent refresher training after such a long time.”
An 18-member-strong service team dubbed "Project Gratitude” from the Sports Department of Chengdu Sports University visited Mingyang in 2009 and began its 17-day service at the branch center of Sichuan Earthquake Rehabilitation Centre and the Federation of Disabled Persons in Mingyang. The team instructed people with disabilities to rebuild their physique through sports. They provided massage and psychological rehabilitation counseling services, in addition to organzing sports competitions for the disabled.
Nuanliu” (or literally “Warm Current”), the official magazine of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation, and several media organizations such as Mingyang TV, Mingyang Daily News, and Mingyang Evening News covered the stories.
