Sichuan Quake Relief (SQR)

As 2010 draws to a close, Sichuan Quake Relief would like to take this opportunity to thank our supporters, one and all, for your continued support of our on-going efforts to improve the lives of those affected by the 12 May 2008 earthquake.

This has been the year in which SQR successfully transitioned from a relief-based organisation into one with long-term development projects that extend our remit beyond helping only those directly affected by the disaster. We’d like to briefly remind you of some of the significant events that punctuated our work this year, as well as outline the projects we will be busy with in 2011.

Rebuilding of Guangji Di Kang Le Kindergarten

Much of our work this year focussed on our commitment to rebuild — and much-improve — a quake-affected rural community a few miles outside Guangji Town in Mianzhu. Part of this project involved rebuilding a damaged kindergarten that provides vital pre-school education to the youngest members of the community.

Work began in January 2010, and when completed just eight months later, the surviving building had been reinforced and the school had a new activity room, dormitories, an enlarged playground, and a kitchen now connected to a biogas digester.

SQR continues to support the kindergarten in a number of ways, with a position on the school advisory committee, and has recently been working with the principal to identify the poorest of current and potential students as beneficiaries of a scholarship scheme: 2000 RMB (US$300) provides one student with full tuition and daily meals at the kindergarten for an entire academic year.

Yushu earthquake relief

On 14 April 2010 the region of Yushu in Qinghai, northeast China, was hit by several large earthquakes which devasated the remote towns and villages of the county, killing almost 3,000 and injuring over 12,000 people — 1,400 severely so.

SQR delivered relief supplies to one of the afflicted towns and provided funding for a tent hospital to tend to the injured. Recognising the need for local knowledge, SQR connected with several local NGOs that are still working on long-term rebuilding and recovery efforts.

Second anniversary of Sichuan earthquake

When the second anniversary of the earthquake was approaching, SQR conducted hundreds of interviews in April 2010 to assess the situation as we entered into the mid-term phase of the recovery effort.

Yingxiu landslides

The town of Yingxiu and its surrounding villages — already one of the most severely-affected areas during the 2008 Sichuan earthquake — was once again struck by tragedy in the summer of this year. Torrential rainfalls triggered landslides and floods which swept away newly-rebuilt homes, destroying what was left of people’s possessions.

SQR launched a donation drive in order to try to provide the affected people with essentials such as blankets, towels and hygiene products.

CSA activities and fund-raisers

Chengdu Sports Aid played an active role throughout 2010, as both a fund-raiser and continuing to bring fun and games to quake-affected communities. Sports-based fund-raisers such as the annual half-marathon and fun-run and the ABE Charity Cup football tournament were organised by SQR and dedicated volunteer supporters, and a swim-a-thon raised money for SQR over the summer.

We also continued to receive the generous support of the Chengdu business and social community, being the beneficiaries of year-end fund-raising events such as the Chengdu International Women’s Society Christmas Bazaar and the ABE Christmas Party.

Guangji Di Kang Le Community Centre

As part of SQR’s efforts in the rural Guangji community, in partnership with Disaster Relief Shelters Foundation we constructed a new community centre next to the Di Kang Le Kindergarten.

This centre is now in active use and forms a lively part of community life, offering a variety of cultural activities for young and old, and a resource for local grassroots NGOs to build their own capacities to develop projects and network with like-minded members of their community.

Expanding the centre’s resources and integration into the wider Guangji community forms the focus of SQR’s work during the first half of 2011. As well as those activities that are already underway, we plan to begin providing support services specifically targetting the disabled community in the vicinity of Guangji.

Thank you!

SQR would like to extend our sincere thanks to each and every one of our supporters. Our work was founded on a community spirit and we deeply appreciate the means and encouragement you have given us to carry on our work throughout 2010, and into 2011.

We are sure that next year will be an even more successful twelve months for SQR (and to kick off the new year, we will have an exciting announcement to make in early January!), so please do continue to keep up-to-date with our activities.

It just takes a few minutes to make an online donation to SQR, in any one of 76 currencies. Please consider making a donation to us today!

Wishing you all a Happy New Year, and the very best for 2011,

The SQR team