UNICEF and IKEA reach children in quake zone
Sichuan Earthquake One Year Anniversary
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Children walk to school in Xihe County, Gansu Province. Nearly one year after the May 2008 earthquake damaged their schools, they have returned to school in temporary classrooms with the joint efforts of UNICEF and IKEA Social Initiative.
Yang Mei, 13, packs her shoulder bag before going to school. She still remembers the day the earthquake hit her school causing the roof to collapse and walls to crack open, “The classroom was shaking and many students rushed out to the door.”
Wang Yanling, 12, studies in a new prefabricated classroom with schools supplies provided by IKEA Social Initiative.
“New prefabricated classroom is cooler in summer, and brighter than old one.”
In several schools damaged by the quake in Xihe County, children had to squeeze into village activity rooms such as this to resume study. As one of the poorest counties in China, the schools had few resources at hand to cope.
Mar. 2009, Dilapidated classrooms have been replaced by new prefabricated rooms in Caochuan Primary School, one of the 39 schools that UNICEF and IKEA Social Initiative are providing a 3-year package of interventions in education and Water and Sanitation.
Mar. 2009, Students study in Caoyang Primary School of Xihe County. UNICEF and IKEA Social Initiative have helped some 10,000 students back to quality education.
Before the earthquake, most of the villages in Xihe had no running water at home or school. The county also suffered from chronic drought.
Mar 2009: Children wash hands from a tap stand in Caochuan Primary School.
Oct. 2008, Most of the schools in Xihe had no sanitary latrines or handwashing stands.
Now, a year after the earthquake, a new handwashing facility connected to a safe water supply is under construction near the prefabricated classrooms in Caoyang Primary School. Sanitary latrines for boys and girls are also under construction.
Children in Caochuan Primary School wait to sign out sports equipment as others are reading new library books.
"We used to make toys by ourselves. Now we can play palm-feature ball and many new sport games."
Children play sports at the playground in Caoyang Primary School.
A girl studies in a prefabricated classroom. With support from IKEA Social Initiative, UNICEF will help train teachers to deliver more enriching education and introduce the Child-Friendly School approach where girls and boys are treated equally.
Yang Mei, 13, walks on her road to school. UNICEF and IKEA Social Initiative will continue to help children like her fulfil their dreams.
"I am happiest when in class or playing with my classmates. I want to become a teacher when I grow up."
UNICEF and IKEA Social Initiative will continue to help children like her fulfil their dreams.
