Daily Lesson from Life 12 May 2009

"Tue, May 12, 2009 my paper - From grief comes hope

BOTH crippled from a young age, Mr Du Jianfu (top right), 35, and Mr Huang Gan (top left), 42, lost their only sons when the earthquake struck Sichuan province on May 12.

The path to healing for the two fathers lies in their new calling: Counselling quake survivors who have suffered similar losses of limbs and loved ones.


The two, from Dujiangyan city, are part of a group of Chinese volunteers who attend counselling training organised by Singapore charity Touch Community Services International (TCSI).

But, while recounting their experiences, the demeanour of the two gave way as suddenly as the walls that killed their children - they dissolved into tears.


Said Mr Du: "Though we have come to terms with our loss, when we counsel others who talk about their kids, we grieve all over again."

Providing health and education facilities, and sanitation and livelihood-assistance projects remain high on the agenda for various Singapore charities like TCSI, Mercy Relief, World Vision Singapore and the Singapore Red Cross.

In total, international donors have contributed about 4.4 billion yuan (S$941 million) to relief efforts, said the China government in aWhite Paper yesterday.


In a visit to disaster-hit areas in the province with TCSI and Mercy Relief, I was confronted by emotions as myriad as the individuals who expressed them.

I spoke to still-grieving parents like Mr Du, who demanded answers to the collapse of schools that snuffed out their children's brief lives.


Others who have made their homes in makeshift housing for a year expressed resignation over their future.

Then there were grateful villagers who had benefited from the efforts of Singapore's charities. "Our living conditions have improved tremendously. Life is better now," said Madam Wang, 65, who resides in a damaged old folk's home that was rebuilt by Mercy Relief after the quake."

I am in Guangzhou and watched the live telecast of the WenChuan earthquake anniversary commemoration ceremony on TV this afternoon. President Hu spoke at 12 May 2009 1428hours, a year ago when the massive earthquake killed thousands and damaged properties of more than a few billions!

It is a powerful image of all the newsreel replays and any other video clips recorded by ordinary people on their hand phones or video equipments when it happened. It is heartbreaking to see the survivors grieved again as they are reminded of what happened 1 year ago. It is heartwarming to hear and see some many courageous people who try to get on with lives, who had save lives, who had contributed to relief and rehabilitation of the mind and body and the reconstruction of physical things!

Many questions were raised still about the 'slowness' of the reconstruction. Many goods have also come about as many young people decided to be volunteers for the rehabilitation and reconstruction work. Many questions were raised on what happened to the culprits that build 'dou-fu'-like school premises, where a lot of students and teachers died, that collapse at the 1st sign of earth movements!

May this never happened again. May the reconstruction of houses take place faster. May the rehabilitation of the body, and especially, the mind move faster forward.

May we bring those culprits to justice for building below quality and unsafe buildings!

I bowed my head for 1-mintue in the memory of those who perished in this tragic natureal disaster.