Sichuan Quake Relief (SQR)

Third anniversary of Sichuan earthquake

David Hunt — Thu, 12 May 2011 11:01:59 +0000

Today marks the third anniversary of the Sichuan earthquake. SQR continues to focus on rebuilding economic opportunities for those families and individuals whose livelihoods were destroyed when the disaster struck.

Update on Yunnan earthquake situation

David Hunt — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 09:50:12 +0000

Conditions have remained stable and are being dealt with effectively, with cooperation between central and local government as well as NGOs working in the region.

Magnitude 5.8 earthquake hits south-west Yunnan

David Hunt — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:07:27 +0000

A strong earthquake has toppled buildings and killed at least 25 people in Yingjiang, south-west Yunnan.

SQR’s Review of the Year — 2010

David Hunt — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 05:42:56 +0000

An overview of SQR's achievements in 2010, and our on-going work for 2011.

SQR’s grassroots NGO capacity-building sessions underway

David Hunt — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 08:07:39 +0000

Nine local groups took part the first of SQR's grassroots NGO capacity-building sessions in a day of workshop activities coordinated by SQR at the Di Kang Le Community Centre in Guangji.

Sports Day at Di Kang Le Kindergarten

David Hunt — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 05:39:54 +0000

The Di Kang Le Kindergarten in Guangji has held its first student-and-parents sports day since it was rebuilt and reopened in September. SQR was there to enjoy the fun and games.

Community events at SQR’s Di Kang Le Community Centre

David Hunt — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 04:27:43 +0000

Regular, free activities for the local people of Shihe and other surrounding villages of Guangji are underway at our Di Kang Le Community Centre. CSA is running skills-development sessions at Guangji Elementary School.

Links for 2010-11-14 [del.icio.us]

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 00:00:00 PST

Nonprofits in China » Beijing Government to Purchase Public Welfare Projects from Social Organizations
Beijing municipal government is to earmark special funds to purchase services provided by social organizations to fill up the shortage of the government’s offering of public services, especially those to the disadvantaged.

This year, Beijing Government would allocate 100 million Chinese RMB Yuan ($15 million) to purchasing 300 public welfare projects from social organizations, government officials said.

ABE Charity Cup 2010 raises 30,000 RMB for grassroots groups in earthquake area

David Hunt — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 05:28:07 +0000

The 4th Annual ABE Charity Cup football tournament, this year organised by SQR, raises money for grassroots organisations in the earthquake area.

Rebuilt Guangji Di Kang Le Kindergarten and new Community Centre officially opened

David Hunt — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 23:34:24 +0000

The opening ceremony of the re-built Guangji Di Kang Le Kindergarten, and the new Di Kang Le Community Centre, was a resounding success.

Yingxiu landslide evacuees: revised needs and numbers

David Hunt — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:24:41 +0000

207 more evacuees arrived yesterday. As well as new or freshly-laundered blankets, sheets and towels, there is also a need for hygiene products such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, bodywash, shampoo, and laundry detergent.

Links for 2010-06-26 [del.icio.us]

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 00:00:00 PDT

Nonprofits in China » On Impacts of China’s SAFE Regulation Regarding Overseas Donations
The new regulations have hit these little grassroots groups, and foreign organizations working in China, especially hard. Here’s why.
Auditors Find Spending Problems in Sichuan Quake Funds
About 40 billion yuan intended for relief operations after the devastating 2008 earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan Province was delayed or misused, auditors revealed Wednesday.
Mental health gets a boost - GlobalTimes
The government plans to expand and renovate 550 mental health facilities across the country to improve mental health services and prevent the risk of violence from patients.
China to implement reconstruction plan in NW China quake zone
Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu said Sunday the government would soon implement the reconstruction plan for quake-hit Yushu in northwest China's Qinghai Province.

Links for 2010-04-21 [del.icio.us]

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:00:00 PDT

Yushu disaster area eyewitness report from Sichuan Quake Relief - GoChengdoo: Chengdu news, events, listings, travel, business, living
Peter Goff and several members of the Sichuan Quake Relief team have just returned from an aid-delivery trip to Longbao Town in Qinghai, one of the more remote areas near quake-stricken Yushu.

Links for 2010-03-23 [del.icio.us]

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 PDT

China’s Empty Villages: New Discoveries in Migration Trends - China Philanthropy
Not all migration is rural-urban. A considerable percentage of migrants are rural-rural, meaning people move to more prosperous rural villages where there are more opportunities.

Links for 2010-03-15 [del.icio.us]

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 PDT

2nd Online Colloquium: Challenges for Grassroots NGOs - Commentary
Today, there are already many grassroots NGOs in mainland China. Most of them are unregistered ...There are increasingly more foundations that support these NGOs, such as the Global Fund, The Asia Foundation, Ford Foundation, and Gates Foundation. Even though these agencies have made tremendous contributions to the growth of NGOs in mainland China, their negative impact can be just as profound. They tend to see these NGOs as tools to accomplish their local projects, so they only fund their own specific activities and ignore the broader reality, which is that these NGOs also need to pay bills, salaries, administration costs, office supplies, rent, etc. Consequently, grassroots NGOs sometimes resort to manipulating their books in order to survive and this leads to very serious financial problems. When this happens, funders tend not to seek better solutions, but instead they severely criticize the NGOs, which creates an even more difficult situation.
China: Beijing to restrict NGO activities | Spero News
A new law introduces restrictions on how independent Chinese NGO can get foreign funding. Experts say authorities are increasingly intolerant of independent groups in every sector of society, including charities.
I.H.T. Op-Ed Contributor - A Different Kind of Aid - Hand Out Money - NYTimes.com
What happened when poor people received nearly half a year’s income with no strings attached?

Links for 2010-02-18 [del.icio.us]

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PST

Regranting: smart humility?
For my own modest philanthropy, I could spend months researching which US-based organization does the best work serving at-risk youth. Or I could simply write a cheque to the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, widely celebrated for the rigorous process it uses to pick youth development organizations with proven results. It is very likely that they would make a better decision than I ever could. And so my money would do a better job helping kids. This is the essence of regranting.

Links for 2009-12-27 [del.icio.us]

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:00:00 PST

Quake-hit residents in Sichuan rebuild homes with "low carbon" reconstruction effort _English_Xinhua
At Daping village of Sichuan's Tongji county, a place which was also heavily stricken by the earthquake last year, so-called "LOHO(happiness and harmony) homes" are being jointly built by local residents and a non-governmental environmental protection group, the "Global Village of Beijing".
Hong Kong Red Cross opens second earthquake rehabilitation centre
President Mrs Selina Tsang Pou Siu-mei officiated the Opening Ceremony of the Hong Kong Red Cross’ Second Rehabilitation Centre in Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province
T.O. group helps quake victims | Toronto & GTA | News | Toronto Sun
Chan went with her dad, former MP Raymond Chan -- on behalf of the non-profit group Ice Breaking Care Society's 500 Club -- with a team of doctors to establish a mobile medical clinic for small villages that were completely out of reach following the quake in May 2008.