Tue, 10 Jun 2008

The teacher’s tale: helping in the aftermath of the Chinese earthquake

CHENGDU (NNA)- The only Waldorf school in China is located in the town of Chengdu in the province of Sichuan, 90 kilometres away from the epicentre of the devastating earthquake which hit the country almost a month ago. Immediately following the earthquake, the school community published reports about the situation on its website. Sinologist Astrid Schroeter, a German teacher who has been at the school for just a year, translated the texts.

Six days after the earthquake, Waldorf teacher Zhang Li writes in her report: “So much is happening that we have the feeling a month has passed. Although the rain clouds in the sky have moved away and although international rescue teams have arrived in the affected areas, an oppressive feeling remains in the heart. The psychological care of the survivors and the relatives of victims is difficult to cope with because demand is so great.”

Some of the Waldorf teachers work in a hospital in Chengdu to look after seriously wounded children who were flown in by helicopter. These children have no news about their parents; some of them have probably been orphaned.

Zhang Li continues: “A 12-year-old girl found a way out of the rubble through her own strength. But her left leg was so badly injured that it had to be amputated. She is still inconsolable and sometimes she cries bitterly, sometimes she screams. Her name is pronounced the same as that of one of our children in class 6, although it is written differently. Our teacher Li Zewu has managed to calm her down. When our teacher Yang Rong cared for her, the girl suddenly called out to her: ‘Mama, Mama, can I give you a kiss’. Everybody had tears in their eyes. 

“Other three- and four-year-olds are being looked after by our kindergarten teachers Xiao Gao, Mengmeng, Xiao Yan and Su Chen. The children are badly injured and they constantly call for their mothers.”

Other Waldorf teachers help the hospital administration to train unskilled volunteers. Zhang Li: “We try to implement a system that avoids the children being cared for by different volunteers every few hours, so that they have the same people looking after them over the long term.”

The situation is a real trial of strength for the helpers: “We also need periods quiet and distance and we have therefore divided the 24 hours of the day into a fixed rhythm of care, which helps us and the children. In addition there are many volunteers in the hospital who have no experience at all” writes Zhang Li.

The teachers at the Waldorf school discussed the rules which should be adhered to if one was going to volunteer to help others without becoming needy oneself.

“Listen to your body to tell you when you need a break” is just as much part of this as “at least twice a day takes some time out to mess about with your colleagues and have a really good laugh.” And don’t believe you can solve all the problems by yourself.

Both the Waldorf school’s busses and their drivers are out in the disaster area with the Red Cross taking blankets, food and clothes. Many school parents have made donations to the Red Cross relief effort.

And this is the situation at the school: “Colleagues often telephone the parents and discuss what useful things they can do at home with the children. Our colleagues Hongyu, Xinhua, Astrid Schroeter (Xu Xinghan), Xu Tian and our kitchen staff are all available at the school and in the office; they answer the phone, look after our homepage, give interviews and keep the map of the area of devastation up to date so that we know which roads have re-opened. They also look after the few children that are here during the day because their parents could not make other arrangements.”

Two days later Zhang Li continues with her report: “Today I would have liked to be more specific about our situation, but a few minutes ago television and radio broadcast a warning that a heavy aftershock is expected so that I can only briefly describe our situation. Chengdu is at present very chaotic. Everywhere cars are in the middle of the roads where people live and all reasonably available places are filled with tents.

“Many of our teachers and parents have returned to the school and live here in tents. We are going through very hard times. Many people are incredibly sad, desperate, overcome and without hope. We are facing a great inner challenge.”

Waldorf teachers Li Zewu and Zhang Li have since participated at a conference on the psychological care of survivors of the earthquake organised by the ministry of education in Beijing. Zhang Li says that it focused on the method with which to help especially the children in the disaster area. Zhang Li believes that there is good reason for the Waldorf school in particular to have been included in this conference because Waldorf education was greatly respected by the psychologists in Chengdu.

About a dozen teachers volunteered to take part in the activities decided by the conference.

Zhang Li continues: “We went to Mianyang north of Chengdu. There are around three hundred children who live in tents. In one tent there is a school. Countless children, parents and journalists are congregated there. Injured children from the affected areas are continuously flown in. We thought of how we could help these children. Our brave and experienced teachers played ring games, clapping games and games to get to know each other with the children.

“But because there was so much noise that one could barely hear ones own voice, the Waldorf teachers mainly played games using gestures to explain and copy. We painted with the children. This was a great challenge. Many children looked content during the games, some laughed. But there were also children who were reserved and distant. Many children didn’t know as yet whether their parents were still alive. We also organised discussion groups with the teenagers. For us the question remains what is most important for these children right now.”

According to many psychologists, the children are still in the first stage of shock. First of all they need ordered surroundings and a firm rhythm where they feel secure. Once they have received new clothes, school items, flowers and gifts, the long term emotional care becomes very important, as is the care for those who had lost their relatives.

Many people in China from all areas and the ministries work on this task. Also for Zhang Li this cooperation proved to be a moving experience.

She writes: “Normally I am not particularly interested in politics and I have more of a mundane relationship to the government. But now I am aware of the exceptionally great and human efforts of the government. I am very touched by this. I feel how through this disaster the best, truest and most positive features of people come to the fore.

“Although the price is indescribably high and the death toll is hardly comprehensible, I hope that the victims’ souls in heaven can feel the great love which emerges everywhere at the moment. If they can experience this, they can feel protected.”

Every morning the college of teachers assembles. “We do eurythmy and exchange our thoughts to gain the strength to face the day. Then we make a list of priorities and plan the next step,” writes Zhang Li.

In another report on its website, the school community of the Waldorf school in Chengdu expresses its gratitude for the help it has received since the disaster from friends throughout the world.

Most needed, however, was aid for the most affected adults and children. “As Waldorf teachers we are doing everything in our power to help the children in the disaster area and to care for them. In the Huaxi hospital in Chengdu and in Mianyang close to the disaster area we have experienced the tears and laughter of the children as well as the never ending selfless help of nurses, doctors and teachers.”

Finally, the school community in Chengdu refers in its text to the connections and transformations that have been created through the love among people in the disaster area. “They appear as an unfailing, bright stream that permeates us and warms us and brings us peace.”

End/nna/ung/pe

Link: http://www.waldorfchina.org

Donations for the Chengdu Waldorf school: Recipient: Freunde der Erziehungskunst Rudolf Steiners e. V., account no.: 39800704, sort code: 600 100 70, bank: Deutsche Postbank AG

Item: 080610-02EN Date: 10 June 2008

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