重建地震灾区孩子们生活信念

24EN editor"s note：Nearly one year has gone by since the devastating earthquake that hit southwest China"s Sichuan province. But, people from across China and overseas are still concerned very much about how much the quake-affected children have been healed from the trauma they had after the quake.

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Yang Mei, 13, packs up her bag before going to school in this photo exhibited at the launch of the Sichuan earthquake one year report by the United Nations Children"s Fund (UNICEF) at a press conference in Beijing, on Monday, May 11, 2009. Yang is one of some 10,000 students who are studying in prefabricated classrooms and using clean water and sanitary toilets in 39 schools of Xihe County, Gansu Province, thanks to the joint efforts of UNICEF and the Chinese Ministry of Education.

One year has gone by since the devastating earthquake that hit southwest China"s Sichuan province. But, people from across China and overseas are still concerned very much about how much the quake-affected children have been healed from the trauma they had after the quake.

Many touching pictures and stories have just been released by UNICEF in its Sichuan earthquake one year report launched on Monday at a press conference in Beijing. The report also outlined the great efforts being undertaken by UNICEF in terms of relief and reconstruction in the province.

Unlike many other children who were accompanied by their parents, Doudou, a 6-year-old girl came with her 62-year-old grandfather to the UNICEF-supported Child Friendly Space in Beichuan County after the earthquake.

The earthquake had taken away the lives of her dear parents in an instant, leaving her and her brother as orphans. Her parents were among the more than 69,000 lives claimed by last May 12 earthquake and subsequent landsides.
 
"In the first few months after the quake, the child would wake up in the middle of the night crying for her mother and father to come back," said Doudou"s grandfather, surnamed Wang. "Doudou refused to talk to anyone and was sad for a very long time. I didn"t know how to comfort her."

Nearly one year after the earthquake and with regular visits to the Child Friendly Space in their resettlement camp, Doudou and her brother have begun a process of healing.

"After going to the Child Friendly Space and playing with other kids, Doudou gradually started to laugh. Now she is a little girl with sunny personality. She stayed in the Child Friendly Space until the teachers are forced to ask her to go home and come back the next day." Doudou"s grandfather said, as he smiled.

Doudou and her brother now receive regular subsidies from the government. "Doudou loves dancing and riding her bike. Her brother dreams of becoming a scientist to invent a device to prevent earthquakes in the future," said the proud grandfather.

Doudou"s story is just one common example from the quake-hit areas of Sichuan. Many other children, aided by the joint efforts of the government, non-governmental organizations and caring individuals, have gradually begun the process of healing from the trauma of losing their parents, teachers and friends.            

"In the earliest days after the earthquake, on my first trip to Sichuan with the National Working Committee on Children and Women of the State Council, I learned of the great need to provide psychosocial support for children, parents and caregivers. I am very happy that today we are supporting the government"s operation of 40 Child Friendly Space across Sichuan, reaching more than 42,000 children," Dr. Yin Yin New, UNICEF"s representative to China said at the press conference.

"We will continue to support these efforts, with emphasis on children and women, as there are still many families who need assistance to return to their normal lives," she added.    更多信息请访问：http://www.24en.com/

Children affected by the quake may need ample material relief, but most importantly, they need more support to rebuild their belief in life.
 
Houses and schools can be rebuilt, but the psychological effects on the children affected by the disaster could be deep and long-lasting. People and communities must continue pulling together to aid and support these children in their healing process.