On May 12, 2008, the most devastating earthquake in China over the last 3 decades struck Sichuan. In the aftermath of the quake, hundreds of thousands of survivors were stricken by trauma. Perhaps we are only haunted by the quake sometimes in a vicarious sense; but it caused permanent suffering to students, whose future was jeopardised.
The impact of the disaster defies assessment. Homes reduced to rubble, citizenry maimed to permanent disability, children reduced to orphancy, all these misfortunes have made hard lives even more dire. It is gratifying to see victims who have lost their homes being resettled from tents into makeshift prefab dwellings by the government. In March 2009, despite the communication barrier caused by the dialect, we were able to convey love and friendship during our visit to victims living in prefab dwelling units. We exchanged warm handshakes and fortified their will to persist in their life’s struggles. There are also temporary classrooms in the form of prefab units located in the settlement area. Notwithstanding the environment, students were focused on their study. We could read in their desperate eyes that education is their only hope. Having witnessed this all, how could we turn our backs on them?After the quakes, the Gratia Education Scheme was launched in Mianyang, benefiting 100 needy middle high school students in two middle schools.
In the quake of 5-12, our house collapsed inflicting on us crippling financial loss. My parents come from a farming family; we could barely make ends meet before. The cost of repairing our house together with my tuition and living expense have aged their faces. Borrowing money from the government to fix the house is their only way out. Just then, "Gratia Education Scheme" was introduced by the teacher. I am really thankful to receive the grant. It has brought a glimmer of hope to our family and a shadow of a smile to the faces of my parents.