Sichuan earthquake (May 12, 2008) devastated every one. Ji-li Jiang, Director of Cultural Exchange International who organized a summer camp in Chengdu ( 86 miles from the epicenter) in July 2007 for students in Sichuan's poor mountain area, tried to call her friends for two days but in vain. She finally got through in the afternoon around 4 PM , May 14 and talked to Xiang Qiong-hua, the Director of Asia and Africa Region of SIFA (Sichuan Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries) .

“We finally came home to sleep last night,” Ms. Xiang said with a tired but relieved voice. “Because Chengdu is not the epicenter, we don't get tents as the worst areas do. So we ran out of the house and stayed outside in the rain every time we were woken up by the aftershocks. Wait –” Xiang paused for a few seconds and resumed. “Another quake. A small one,” she said. “We have had over several hundreds aftershocks so far. Three was over six magnitude, and fourteen over five magnitude.”

Ms. Xiang described the horrified moment as the “whole city was about to collapse” two days ago, while she and her colleagues were working in their Chengdu office. As she was describing how the soldiers risked their own lives to rescue the survivors, her voice trailed off. “It's a terrible disaster,” she said, “but it's so moving to see how people helped each other. We will rebuild the cities, especially the schools as soon as we can.”

How can you help?

Tax deductible donation can be sent to Cultural Exchange International, with a notation for Sichuan Earthquake Relief . Cultural Exchange International will wire the donation to SIFA for two usages:

a) Pass to China Red Cross for purchasing and distributing tents, water and food;

b) To rebuild the schools which were destroyed in the quakes.

The money will be used for these two areas exclusively and be recorded for audit.

To make a donation, please click here

On behalf of the Sichuan people, we thank you so much for your generosity. Your help might save one more life, and bring one more child back to school.

About SIFA (web site: http://www.sifa.org.cn )

Sichuan Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (SIFA) is a group member of Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC). As a provincial organization,SIFA is a major channel of the people-to-people exchange & cooperation between Sichuan Province and foreign countries. SIFA serves China's diplomacy and Sichuan's economic development through its various international exchange programs & through its contacts with friendly foreign organizations and individuals, in accordance with SIFA's principles of :

• Enhancing Understanding
• Promoting Friendship
• Maintaining Peace
• Serving Modernization

SIFA's official web site: http://www.sifa.org.cn