VISIT –> the TSF blog for more photos and Foundation news. Our newest post features more about the aftermath of the Yushu earthquake.
Embracing the most needy
One group of residents especially hard hit by the quake is the elderly, many already in their 70's. They have lost old friends, and often sons and daughters and grandchildren too – so not only were their homes and material possessions destroyed in an instant, but in many cases their most important network for human support and connection is gone. And while old age often brings health problems, especially for Tibetan nomads whose lives are very difficult, injuries sustained in the quake added significantly to their burden.
Fortunately for these old people, the traditional culture of Tibet has long treasured the virtues of kindness and compassion, and respect for the elderly is a widely-held value throughout Asia. In Yushu, Buddhist monks and other members of the community with help from international aid organizations are committed to assisting aged quake victims enjoy happier and healthier lives.
Tibetan young people – crucial to the region's recovery
Pictured above are three young residents of Yushu who are working to reduce suffering in their shattered community and to move forward with rebuilding.
Like all survivors of the 2010 earthquake in Yushu, the youth are burdened with traumatic memories of the disaster and the loss of friends and family. Nonetheless, with the support of their close-knit traditional community and its profound cultural heritage, these young adults – the leaders of tomorrow – are providing energy and inspiration for recovery efforts today.
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Tackling an urgent problem
Participants and organizers of a midwifery course are shown in the photo above. They gathered in Yushu in front of The Language Center tent during the summer of 2011.
Since maternal and infant mortality rates in the region are among the highest in the world, global aid organizations now offer midwife training programs. Local women learn safe birth procedures and are provided with the basic supplies needed for better outcomes for both mother and child.
Aid for Yushu earthquake victims - TSF donates community tents
In the sparsely populated villages of Yushu County and in Jiegu (the only larger town in the region), 70 to 90 percent of wood-and-mud houses and buildings collapsed, and many larger structures were heavily damaged or destroyed when the earthquake hit. Most school buildings were no longer usable. There were nearly 2,700 confirmed deaths, with hundreds missing and over 12,000 people injured. The area is hard to reach and its high altitude (over 12,000 feet) and extreme weather conditions have complicated rebuilding efforts; for example, the construction season is only about five months long. As a result, to this day most survivors, 93% of whom are ethnic Tibetans, remain housed in emergency shelters – poor quality summer tents – that were provided after the April 14, 2010 quake.
We heard from relief coordinators on the ground in Yushu that the light-weight canvas tents were a significant problem given the intense wind and cold that are typical of the region's weather. During the winter months, inhabiting such flimsy shelters can literally be life-threatening. Additionally, the relatively small size (144 square feet) of the cotton tents makes them cramped for large families and unusable as community meeting areas. Given this sobering report, we decided to grant funding for the purchase and delivery of two large tents.
The interior of each of these new "winterized" tents is 484 square feet (45 square meters). They are made from strong canvas fabric which is insulated with a cotton-like material and will withstand rainstorms, snow and strong wind; they are durable enough to last a minimum of three years.
A Senior Center for Yushu
Since the elderly in particular suffer from the cold and damp conditions created by inadequate shelter, one of the tents (shown above) has been designated as a center for seniors. Here they spend their days among friends, in a warm, nurturing environment. Food is provided and they can rest and pray. Those who require more intensive medical help receive the care they need. With the seniors gathered in one place, volunteers from the community and professional relief workers are better able to look after the physical and mental well being of the aged quake survivors.
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The photo above, taken in the summer of 2011, shows a group of elderly Tibetans in Yushu with some of the aid workers who assist them.
Language training for a recovering community
While determined to meet the needs of the senior population, the Yushu survivor community is also working to provide services and opportunities for other members of their society. Accordingly, the second tent (see photo below) donated by The Sogan Foundation is now home to a program called The Language Center, which was initiated by Kunchok Sherab who is originally from Nangchen and studied in India for 15 years.
In 2005, he returned to Jiegu where he co-founded and co-managed a public library (known as Norling Library) with his brother until the Yushu earthquake. The library was badly damaged and needed to be demolished. Since reconstruction is expected to take at least three years, Kunchok decided to start a language-training program in Jiegu as soon as possible, because similar programs there had been wiped out by the earthquake.
With helping others as his main motivation, Kunchok obtained a loan to furnish the tent with desks, chairs and teaching materials; three levels of English classes are currently being offered: basic, intermediate and advanced.