Relief & Reconstruction Efforts
A couple of people I know have been writing and talking about earthquake relief and reconstruction efforts by ordinary people and local non-profit groups that are taking place at the forefront of the earthquake epic center in Sichuan - the actions they are taking and the challenges they faced.
This is among the many news that I read, translated into English as follows, from Hengge, Blogbus CEO, who had been planning to make donations to fund the construction of primary schools in Sichuan province prior to the earthquake. He has the latest news from volunteers and friends in the media sector who are at the front-line.
This is among the many news that I read, translated into English as follows, from Hengge, Blogbus CEO, who had been planning to make donations to fund the construction of primary schools in Sichuan province prior to the earthquake. He has the latest news from volunteers and friends in the media sector who are at the front-line.
"Since the earthquake on May 12th, we did not make direct any donations to official organizations such as Red Cross and etc. But made in-kind donations through social channels, and wired money directly to local volunteers that are on-site to procure materials for the relief effort. Up until now, work in the disaster zone has progressed gradually from relief to post-disaster construction. As such, Sichuan
has become the top consideration for funding of primary school construction.
News from the volunteers and friends in the media sector: people who support relief efforts had already left the scene. Medical services, children and residents have been resettled. Currently children are getting ready to go back to school. Disaster zone has been sealed off due to weather and other reasons. As for making donations to rebuild schools, there are still a lot of uncertainties: there are some sayings that one cannot donate as they see fit. The government might centralize construction standards, etc. Presently the cost of funding primary school construction has increased tremendously compared to the past. It remains unknown whether there would be limitations on the "quality of capital"; and centralized coordination as well as
management. At any rate, better go there to understand the situation before making any decisions."
Labels: China, Civil Society, CSR, earthquake, non-profit, reconstruction, relief, sichuan, translations
