On 12th May 2008, areas of Sichuan – China, were devastated by an Earthquake with a magnitude of 7.9 on the Richter scale. More than 60,000 lives were lost, millions of civilians left homeless, and many mourning their loved ones who were unfairly taken away from them.
When I first read a comment online about the China Earthquake, I did not even know about the immensity of this natural disaster. I automatically assumed it was something like the earthquake that we had in the UK in Feb 2008, which I slept through! I then realised the reality of it when I saw the images on the television and the internet that unfolded day by day.
Images of people buried under concrete.
Images of corpses young and old under plastic sheets.
Images of children still holding their pencils whom died straight away when the earthquake struck their schools.
I felt immense empathy for those who had lost their lives, families who had lost their loved ones and people who were suffering. The images were so real and told so much about what was happening and the trauma people were going through. I felt so lucky to live in a country where natural disasters were not a part of everyday life. I donated a measly £50 on the Red Cross website, which is not enough to help those people who had lost everything, although it was the amount I could afford at the time. I sent emails telling friends and family to donate money to the charities. I spent everyday reading and watching the news to see the latest updates of what the Chinese army and government were doing to help. I felt compelled to see how China was responding to this disaster- with emergency aid flying to the effected areas as well as the president, Wen Jia Bao flying in on a private jet to the disaster zone to give consoling words and reassurance to his people.
The emotion in the photos and the video footages really struck a chord within me to do something. However, I felt powerless, not knowing what I could do to really help. After a week and a half of being an obsessive and slightly depressed news addict, an idea came to me. I wasn’t going to sit on my arse, passively surveying the dire situation on TV. So I texted a few of my cousins and friends to see if they would be interested in organising a charity event. After a few meetings, and lots of conversations on phone and MSN, things were beginning to take shape. We came up with a name for our fundraising group, ‘Make a Tomorrow‘, which is a popular Chinese saying that translates well into English. This doesn’t happen very often. It was a perfect name for us. We made a logo, started up a blog and Facebook group, contacted the Red Cross. Things just grew and grew. We researched many venues in London, checked out the prices, researched what audience and scale we wanted, what was going to happen on the evening…
Cut to the chase, after much debate and finding the venue, our Fundraising charity event will be held on: Saturday 26th July, at Parker McMillan, 47 Chiswell Street, Moorgate, London. I have organised bands, Djs, Art sale from Uk Illustrators and Photographers. All funds raised will go to directly to helping the victims of the earthquake.
It has been nearly a month of organising. At times it’s hugely exciting, at others, immensely stressful. However, I am glad I have started this project as I’ve met some great and inspirational people who are eager to help. I have also been surprised by the generosity displayed in people. I hope that perhaps in my small way, I will inspire other young people to be proactive when it comes to social and political situations that are affecting us and those abroad. This world really is smaller than you think; and it is by taking an interest and being open to possibilities that we can really make a difference. By dedication, hard graft and creativity we can change a disastrous circumstance into something we all care about. Through charity events like this one we can strive to ‘make a tomorrow’ that is a positive one we would all like to be part of.
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