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Save the Children Awarded $250,000 from Target to Aid China Quake Survivors
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Paper lanterns made by children hang outside the entrance of a Save the Children child-friendly space in Mainzhu stadium, Sichuan province, China. |
Westport, Conn. (May 30, 2008) — Save the Children today announced a $250,000 grant from Target for its China earthquake relief and response efforts. The global humanitarian and relief organization estimates nearly 3 million children have been affected by the earthquake that struck southwestern China on May 12. The Target grant will allow Save the Children to provide assistance to quake-affected areas with a focus on establishing temporary schools and safe spaces for children.
"Millions of Chinese children have been uprooted from their homes and have had their world turned upside down following the devastating earthquake of May 12," said Save the Children CEO and President Charles MacCormack. "During this chaotic time, it's important to give children structured activities like school and child-friendly areas at temporary shelters where they can play and learn. These planned activities will help children get back into a normal routine, and help them begin to heal and recover from this tragic experience."
MacCormack added,"We are grateful to Target for supporting our China earthquake response efforts. This donation will allow Save the Children to expand our program response to help even more children made vulnerable by this disaster."
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families impacted by this heartbreaking event and we extend our appreciation to all the relief agencies supporting the disaster," said Laysha Ward, vice president, Community Relations, Target.
With decades of on-the-ground experience helping children cope in the aftermath of natural disasters, Save the Children is prepared to help children and their families as they begin to pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives.
Save the Children, working alongside the local Red Cross, plans to establish 30 temporary child-friendly spaces in Deyang, Mianzhu and Mianyang Prefectures in Sichuan Province. These child-friendly spaces will create a sense of normalcy and provide a safe place for children to play, learn and socialize. These areas also will help to support parents and caregivers while they seek assistance, recover from the grief of losing family and friends, and start to rebuild their lives.
Save the Children staff members have already established one child-friendly space in Mianzhu Stadium camp which will serve about 300 children, ages 3 to 12. Community members, trained by Save the Children, are volunteering their time to run the program.
The agency is also working with the Education Bureau in Mianyang and Deyang Prefectures, and Dujiangyan city to help set up temporary schools for primary school children, ages 6 to 12, with sufficient training, materials and equipment to allow children to resume their classes. Save the Children staff have begun to supply furniture, text books and basic school materials to a temporary school being built by the government in Fei Shui Township in Mianyang Prefecture. The temporary school will serve around 1,200 children in kindergarten through middle school. According to Sichuan education officials, more than 13,400 schools were destroyed by the quake.
Save the Children staff continue to work closely with the International Red Cross, the Women's Federation of Sichuan Province and the Ministry of Civil Affairs — the agency charged with coordinating the country's rescue and relief efforts — to assess children's needs in communities affected by the earthquake and to offer expertise where needed.
Officials estimate more than 68,000 people have died and more than 366,000 are injured by China's 7.9-magnitude earthquake more than two weeks ago. Strong aftershocks, landslides, weather predictions of heavy rain in the region and fears of flooding from lakes created by the initial quake are challenging ongoing relief efforts.
Over $1 million in donations and pledges has been raised in the United States by Save the Children for its China earthquake response. Save the Children agencies worldwide have launched a global appeal of $5 million for its China relief efforts. The agency has worked in China since 1995 and currently has 150 national staff — almost all local nationals — in 23 provinces. In China, Save the Children implements programs focused on education, protection and health.
Learn more about Save the Children's response to the earthquake in China.
About Target (www.target.com/community)
Minneapolis-based Target serves guests at 1,613 stores in 47 states nationwide by delivering today's best retail trends at affordable prices. Target is committed to providing guests with great design through innovative products, in-store experiences and community partnerships. Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at Target.com, guests enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to thousands of unique and highly differentiated items. Since 1946, the corporation has invested five percent of its income in the communities it serves. Target (NYSE:TGT) gives more than $3 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Target partners with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.
