Building New Schools in Sichuan
Americans Raise Money for Chinese Children and Earthquake Victims
Aug 7, 2008
Event organizer Amy Wong Mok got misty eyed as she explained why she is raising money for Chinese earthquake relief. On television “watching parents digging their only child out of the rubble was heartbreaking. How are you not moved by that?” Mok is the President and CEO of the Asian American Cultural Center in Austin, Texas. She gathered performers from Asian American communities in Texas to perform in a benefit performance entitled “You Are Not Alone.”
China Earthquake Relief
The goal is to help survivors of recent natural disasters like the earthquake in China’s Sichuan province that killed nearly 70 thousand people and left nearly 5 million people homeless. Much of the $12,000 raised at the event will help rebuild a school destroyed by the 8.0 magnitude earthquake.
Rebuilding Chinese Schools
The effort to rebuild Chinese schools is taking place across America. The China Tomorrow Education Foundation has been renovating schools in China since 2001. The earthquake has prompted them to shift all their resources to Sichuan Province. "We are committed to using 100% of the Earthquake Relief Fund to rebuild schools and communities and help school children who have suffered from this tragedy. " The CTEF web site is receiving messages from schools in New York eager to hold their own fundraisers to support the effort. Popular international basketball star Yao Ming sprearheaded efforts to raise money for earthquake relief.
Thanks from China
The Austin "You Are Not Alone" fundraiser, was attended by Mr Yu Boren, the Deputy Consul General of the People’s Republic of China. Speaking to the crowd in attendance, he offered his “heartfelt thanks to our American friends.” Deputy Consul General Yu said the benefit was the “best illustration of friendship between the United States and China,” and that he was “proud of overseas Chinese in the United States who are showing caring for their homeland.” The worldwide outpouring of help has been a public relations boost for China in light of recent protests over the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. In fact, relief efforts are encouraging investment in China as they repair shattered infrastructure.
Overseas Chinese Rebuilding Sichuan After Earthquake
Performers at the “You Are Not Alone” benefit included children from the April Rain School of Chinese Dance, a Lion Dance Team and a Shaolin Kung Fu school. Many in the predominantly American audience said it was the first time they had ever seen traditional Chinese performances. April Lee of Austin said “while the disaster was a tragedy it is also raising awareness in people like me who never knew anything about Chinese culture until I decided to help. It has opened my eyes to a lot of things.” Wei Luo, a Chinese American, said the event is also good for overseas Chinese who felt helpless when the earthquake struck. Luo said “it was frustrating for all of us watching the suffering in China on television. This is a way for us to give money, time and spiritual support. We feel like we are doing some good here.”
Building New Schools in Sichuan
The International Sustainable Development Foundation out or Portland, Oregon is even more ambitious. They are raising money to improve the environment of China through building new schools. "The stretch vision is for a radically safer and greener rebuilding of Sichuan’s schools and public infrastructure that will measurably reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency, increase the use of healthy building materials and lower toxic off gassing, and contribute to the restoration of local eco systems."
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