Save the Children to set up temporary schools in earthquake affected China

We are working in partnership with the Educational Bureau in Mianyang and Deyang to set up temporary schools.

These will provide schooling to children between 6 and 12 years. We will be training 200 new teachers and develop a special curriculum for a transitional period following the disaster. This will include psychosocial support and hygiene education.

Working with the local Red Cross, we will set us children’s activities centres alongside the local Red Cross temporary housing in Deyang Prefecture. We expect these to be sited as close to communities as is practicable and safe and where government can arrange for water and electricity to be provided. At a later stage, the child friendly support areas would transform into temporary schools and pre-school care.

Following the initial search and rescue efforts conducted by the Chinese military and rescuers – the Chinese government has now appealed for international assistance – and Save the Children has been approached to provide assistance in the areas of education and child protection

Although there are no official statistics available, the estimated number of children victims is very high. Currently, there are over 4,000 children separated from their families, many of whom might be orphaned already.

We have 150 staff in 6 offices across the country and 7 international emergency support staff.

Save the Children's priority is to keep children safe. We will be keeping children's issues on the agenda – setting up child friendly centres for children whose families are homeless and for children separated from their carers.

Save the Children are working with those who have been rescued, providing hygiene kits, a safe temporary shelter for young children including orphans and those separated from their parents. Using the experience we gained in the Tsunami and other disasters, we will work with the local Red Cross and Chinese authorities to create centres that can provide children with a safe, warm and comfortable environment while work to trace their parents progresses.

Save the Children has signed an agreement with the Chinese Red Cross to set up child friendly spaces in temporary shelters in Deyang and Mianyang - two of the worst affected prefectures. These spaces will be supervised areas where children can interact, play, talk about their experiences and have access to books and learning materials.

For media media enquiries, please contact:

Sharyn Hanly
Media Adviser – Save the Children Australia
Tel: (03) 9938 2011
Mob: 0437 355 096

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