The devastating earthquake in Sichuan has shattered the lives of many families and the hearts of all Chinese. Staff, students and alumni at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) are joining hands in sending our love and care to the affected people on the motherland, while those in the Department of Applied Social Studies have formed a concern group to provide assistance, including a counselling service for survivors.

The concern group comprised Year 1 to Year 3 students in the Bachelor of Social Science programmes and is coordinated by associate professors Dr Lee Tak-yan and
Dr Leung Kwan-kwok. Upholding the spirit of social concern, the group is set to help the survivors resurrect their lives through donations, counselling and home rebuilding. To date, about 80 Year 1 and Year 2 students have agreed to take part.

Some of the students, after going through professional training and a vigorous selection process, will join senior social workers and CityU teachers visiting hospitals and temporary homes in Chengdu in August to provide counselling for the survivors. They will mainly help children relieve grief through game and art therapy. The group is now contacting mainland universities for partnerships.

Immediately after assuming the presidency on 14 May, Professor Way Kuo appealed for donations for the affected people. CityU staff, students and alumni are encouraged to make donations directly to CityU’s bank account at Hang Seng Bank (account number: (024) 293-1-187708) by 26 May 2008. The funds will be chiefly used for rebuilding primary schools.

The University has also set up the CityU Support Group for Sichuan Earthquake Victims convened by Dr Ellen Ko Law Yin-lan, Vice-President for Administration, to assist members of the CityU community who may have suffered the misfortune of being affected by the disaster.

Staff, students and alumni have also initiated various donation activities. The Staff Association is holding a charity sale from 19 May to 21 May to sell used books, CDs, VCDs and DVDs donated by CityU staff. All proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross. In addition to the Students’ Union’s call for donations by direct bank-in to the Hong Kong Red Cross China Relief Fund, the China Proper Track Society also collected donations from 15 to 19 May at a counter outside the canteen. The Standing Committee of the Convocation launched the $100 Donation Campaign on 16 May to invite CityU alumni to each donate $100 to the victims.