HFH China Marks Sichuan Earthquake’s Third Anniversary With 100-Volunteer Build

May 19th, 2011

Volunteers Help To Build Housing Units For 150 Families In Zhuyuan Town

(Top) Volunteers helped to build multi-story residential buildings in earthquake-hit Zhuyuan town, Sichuan. Among volunteers were Hong Kong entertainer Kay Tse (center) with HFH China’s managing director Kester Yim (center, left) and a team from Hong Kong Disneyland (bottom).

HONG KONG, 19th May 2011: Marking the third anniversary of the May 2008 earthquake in Sichuan province, China, Habitat for Humanity sent nearly 100 volunteers from Hong Kong to help rebuild homes for 150 families.

The volunteers worked on multi-story residential buildings in Zhuyuan town, Qingchuan county, about 300 km. from the provincial capital Chengdu.

Popular Hong Kong singer Kay Tse was among the volunteers who traveled to Zhuyuan for the 512 New Hope Build.

A 10-member team from Hong Kong Disneyland also volunteered.

Andrew Kam, Hong Kong Disneyland managing director, said in Chinese: “We’re concerned not only with rebuilding homes and community infrastructure, but also with building up the survivors’ spirit, particularly with re-igniting children’s hope for life so that they will be confident of their future.”

After the build, volunteers also visited a kindergarten in Zhuyuan where they were treated to some performances and interacted with the children.

About 90 per cent of the housing in Zhuyuan was damaged or destroyed in the 8.0-magnitude earthquake which struck southwestern China, on 12th May 2008.

Since its post-earthquake response began in early 2009, Habitat for Humanity China has rebuilt more than 1,000 homes in various communities in Sichuan.