About Us « Sichuan Quake Relief

About Us

Sichuan Quake Relief (SQR) is a non-profit, humanitarian organisation dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by the 12 May 2008 Sichuan earthquake.

Objectives

To develop community recovery projects to support the poorest of the poor still badly affected by repercussions of the earthquake.
To assist rural people rebuild safe, earthquake-resistant homes and community buildings.
To act as an information and logistics hub for recovery and reconstruction efforts.
To help incubate grassroot organisations that are playing a role in the rebuilding of stricken communities.
To act as a platform for the development of a vibrant civil society.

Brief profile of SQR

Sichuan Quake Relief is a group of people who live and work in Sichuan — foreigners and Chinese, full-time staff and volunteers — who have come together to assist the victims of the earthquake. On the morning of 13 May 2008, the day after the Sichuan earthquake, SQR started coordinating emergency relief aid. Relief and development projects are still ongoing. SQR is committed to providing long-term support for those affected by the quake. SQR is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-religious entity.

Legal profile of SQR

SQR is a legal charity registered in both the United Kingdom and Hong Kong (Section 88 status). The Mainland operation is a Representative’s Office of the Hong Kong entity, a company limited by guarantee and granted tax exempt status by the Inland Revenue as a charitable entity.

Past and current projects

Emergency relief aid (mainly tents, food, water, medical, hygiene and camping supplies) to smaller towns and villages in the quake zone, particularly in the first 6-8 months post-quake. This emergency relief project absorbed cash, services and material donations in excess of 15 Million RMB.
Summer Camps 2008 — sent more than 70 foreign and local teachers to coordinate and run Summer Camps in six temporary villages. Delivered basic school equipment and educational supplies to more than 30 schools.
Winter 2008 Project — supplied warm bedding, clothing and camping gear to more than 6,000 villagers. Direct material donations in this specific winter project in excess of 2 Million RMB.
Library Project — largely in cooperation with The Library Project, 27 libraries will have been installed in affected schools by end October 2009.
Psychological Services — linked dozens of international and local psychological experts with stricken communities so they could treat adults and children who lost loved ones in the quake.
Water and sanitation projects — funded several small scale water and sanitation projects in the affected areas in the months after the earthquake.
Summer 2009 Project — the previous year’s summer camp project was vastly expanded and became the Sports, Art, Music and English (SAME) Camps in 13 affected villages. More than 260 local and foreign volunteers taught about 4,000 children in the SAME Camps over a 7-week period.
Logistics hub — putting donors/volunteers/NGOs in touch with projects and each other.
Information hub — keeping the media and wider communities updated on the latest situation in the affected areas and continually updating and circulating needs assessments.
Individual Sponsorship Programmes — linking individual donors up with disadvantaged students where the donors lend direct financial assistance to enable the students to continue their education.
Local NGO Incubation — supporting dozens of local non-profit organisations that have been established since the earthquake, providing financial, material, logistical and managerial support.
Chengdu Sports Aid — coordinating this group of foreign and local volunteers who have run sports and fun-based programmes for children in relocated and temporary villages almost every week since the earthquake.
Rebuilding and developing the Guangji Kindergarten and Community Centre.

How does SQR survive?

SQR has minimal administration costs and relies on direct donations of funds, goods and services, project funding, and revenue from events and merchandise. SQR can help companies link up Corporate Social Responsibility donations, or any other donors, directly with project beneficiaries.

Fundraising Initiatives

SQR merchandise — to raise money for SQR, spread the word, and look good, all at the same time.
Afterquake CD – in aid of SQR. Release date: 12th May 2009, the first anniversary of the earthquake

Who we are (contact info)

Staff	Board of Directors
David Hunt, Director	Peter Goff, Chair
Li Jiehao, Development Coordinator	Mark Allen, Vice-Chair
Li Yuanyuan, Outreach Coordinator	Catherine Platt, Secretary
	Richard Brett, Treasurer