CHINA 2009 • One Year after the Earthquake • Women Workers in the Economic Crisis • Micro-credit and Sugarcane in Guangxi • Lighthouse Project: Urban Students teach in Rural Areas MYANMAR • One Year after Cyclone GLOBAL • Right to Survive: Climate Change and Natural Disasters
ay M 09 20
EVERY DAY IS A BIRTH Madeleine Marie Slavick
Through the fog – Zhai Fan
On the twelfth of May last year, the
Every day is a birth. A year later, it is
massive earthquake struck western China,
time to assess what we have achieved:
where it was a normal school day and
here is a summary of Oxfam’s activity
workday. In Hong Kong, it was a public
over the year, from May 2008 to May
holiday for Buddha’s Birthday.
2009. Oxfam primarily works in remote,
Oxfam’s directors happened to be in
impoverished areas that have received no
the middle of a special planning meeting
other assistance, or very limited support.
Another foggy morning in
in the office, on the 17th floor of a building
Oxfam puts the needs of women, children,
Chengdu – the weather of this
in Northpoint, on Hong Kong Island. They
elderly, and ethnic minorities at a priority,
did not feel the deadly tremors miles
and integrates disaster preparedness
and miles away in Wenchuan, Sichuan,
training and community participation into
the epicentre, but heard the news a few
each and every project. Oxfam adheres
minutes later, and immediately committed
to international codes of practice to
funds for relief work.
ensure quality, effectiveness, efficiency,
Zhai Fan (left) with project participant and a very healthy pig in Sichuan
season. I am gazing out the window at the emerald green bamboo, which looks much higher than last year. Last year. It has been almost a
on the wooden floor and pushing
whole year since the earthquake of 12
against the walls. Then it became
May 2008. As I look out, I look back
stronger, the rattling grew louder. My
I say to myself that I am glad
to that memorable day.
The fog is loosening now, and I return to 2009.
The agency went into a flurry. Disaster
colleague looked over at me with an
to be where I am. My team and I
management colleagues rushed
I was in my office, sitting at
open mouth, half smiling, half scared.
are clear about the challenges of
to Sichuan and Gansu to
my computer, in the middle of
It was hard to read her expression.
the work ahead in Sichuan, and
do assessments, source
downloading files onto my laptop.
It was a face she had never made
we are confident that our projects
supplies, and run relief
A colleague was talking about a
before.
are effective, even though we are
projects. Community
community development project
Suddenly, a feeling of pure terror
also aware that we can only do so
development staff in
but I was only half listening, because
came over me. What if it gets worse?
much. The earthquake – the biggest
our Beijing, Guiyang,
the desk was starting to shake, and
What if the walls cave in? Will I see
disaster I have seen in my ten years
Kunming and Lanzhou
then my coffee cup rattled across the
my daughter again? Am I supposed
of development work in China – has
offices redirected work
desk. Another colleague was on the
to duck under the desk?
taught me that it is up to each of us,
plans to address the crisis.
other side of the room, his eyes very
"C o m e ov e r h e r e ," I h e a r d
and all of us, to be prepared, and to
Fundraisers appealed for
wide open. A third one was standing
someone say, quickly guiding me to
cheer. Oxfam’s projects are part of a
donations. Communications
in the hallway. The shaking stopped
the door frame.
whole, and together, we will win. We
staff issued press statements
will overcome all the difficulties and
and answered thousands of
find the way through any fog.
questions. A month or so
for a moment, started again, a little harder. It was not what I imagined
At that moment, it just stopped. Just like that.
an earthquake to be. It was more
We all stood there frozen in place.
like a swaying. It felt like a sumo
Uncertain whether it was going to
wrestler was jumping up and down
come back or if that was it.
COVER: Sugarcane in Guangxi, China
Based in Chengdu, Sichuan, Zhai Fan is the Deputy Programme Manager of Oxfam Hong Kong’s earthquake relief and rehabilitation programme.
into the crisis, we opened an operational centre in Chengdu.
accountability and transparency.