UNICEF and IKEA Social Initiative Reach Children in China's Quake Zone

UNICEF and IKEA reaches children in quake zone

UNICEF China, May 2009

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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.

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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."

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Wang Yanling, 12, studies in a new prefabricated classroom with schools supplies provided by IKEA Social Initiative. Right after the quake she started classes in tents. “It was very hot inside the tents and we rushed out during breaks to escape the heat. The new prefab is cool in summer and better lighted.”

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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.

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Mar. 2009: Dilapidated classrooms have been replaced by new prefabricated rooms in Caochuan Primary School, one of the 39 schools that UNICEF and IKEA Social Initiative are providing a 3-year package of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.

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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.

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A woman carries two buckets of water collected from an old well near Caochuan Primary School. 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. “We don't use that well anymore," said Wang Wenjuan, 10. Water supply systems are being built in 39 schools and communities so that children can use clean water at home and school.

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Oct. 2008: Most of the schools in Xihe had no sanitary latrines or handwashing stands.

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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.

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Children in Caochuan Primary School wait to sign out sports equipment as others are reading new library books. "We used to make our own skipping ropes and footbags. But now we can play badminton and a lot more games and sports," Yang Mei said.

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Children play sports at the playground in Caoyang Primary School.

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A boy studies in a prefabricated classroom in one of the 39 schools supported by UNICEF and IKEA Social Initiative.

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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.

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Yang Mei, 13, walks on her road to school. "I am happiest when I am in class or playing with my classmates," She said. "I want to become a teacher when I grow up." UNICEF and IKEA Social Initiative will continue to support children like her to fulfill their dreams.

UNICEF and IKEA Social Initiative Reach Children in China's Quake Zone

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