WZQ Newsletter Issue 8, 31 July 2012 Bridge for which we come together To better the life of the needy in China where we live and which we care From the editor: This year is the 5th anniversary of Wu Zhi Qiao (Bridge to China) Charitable Foundation. The cover story of this issue reviews the prelude and process of our establishment, as well as our mission and work. We hope to encourage our readers to sustain the endless soul bridges. This is a story about men and bridges. It all begins in the Gansu province of Northwestern China, where the Po River separates a remote and humble village, Maosi into two parts. For village children who need to go between school and home, wading across the river was their daily ritual. In view of this, Professor Edward Ng from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, together with other volunteers, launched a joint-university bridge-building project entitled "A Bridge Too Far, A Dream Comes True". We believe a bridge can make a difference to villagers' life. We started building our dream from scratch, and we soon knew that it was a bridge not too far because we are not alone. With tangible and intangible support from all circles in Hong Kong, student volunteers set foot in the village in June 2005. With the help of local villagers, we were not only building a physical bridge to improve the livelihood of the next generation, we were also building a spiritual bridge of love, appreciation and friendship between Hong Kong and the Mainland. We knew this was only the beginning. In order to benefit more villagers and students, the Wu Zhi Qiao (Bridge to China) Charitable Foundation was established in July, 2007. It was the very first time for the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People's Republic of China to sign a cooperation agreement with a NGO in Hong Kong. Through establishing collaboration relationship with universities and other organizations, we gradually expanded our network and project scale. In the past five years, we explored the remote areas in Northwestern and Southwestern China. We left footprint on the Yunnan-Guizhou plateau averaging about 2,000 meters as well as on the hot and humid Sichuan basin. So far, we have recruited about 1,000 volunteers from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other countries. Apart from building bridges, volunteers also helped improve the livelihood of villagers by building basic public facilities and delivering talks on public hygiene,etc. After the Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan, we immediately launched a village rebuild demonstration project to help villagers rebuild their homes using scientific architectural design and practical building techniques. Meanwhile, events such as Wu Zhi Xing Charity Walk and exhibition were organized to let more people understand the concept and work of the Foundation. Our effort has gained public recognition and support. For instance, the Foundation was awarded the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation 2011 Jury Commendation for Innovation. This motivates us to work even harder as we move forward. The Wu Zhi Qiao benefits those in need as well as ourselves. Although the physical bridges may age with time, the bridges between hearts will strengthen as the years go by. We believe that the story about men and bridges will continue...
Site Location: Xingren Village, Chenghai Township, Yongsheng County, Lijiang City Sponsor: ACR Capital Holdings Pte Ltd This project was led by the teacher and student team of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. The only concrete bridge in Xingren Village, which served some 3,620 residents, was severely damaged and required urgent repair. After conducting its first site investigation in January 2012, the team revisited the village and used an abandoned truck to make the main beam of the bridge in early May. ACR Capital Holdings Pte Limited, sponsor of the project, inaugurated the bridge in June. Please click here for more project details. Site Location: Heyuan Village, Jiuhe Town, Yulong County, Lijiang City, Yunnan Sponsors: Victoria Educational Orgainsation, Victoria Nursery & Kindergarten P.T.A., Victoria Shanghai Academy, Victoria Shanghai Academy (Primary) P.T.A, Victoria Charitable Trust Fund This project was the collaboration of the teacher and student teams from the Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. 46 professional and student volunteers assisted in building a footbridge of more than 50 meters long. This is the third bridge-building project sponsored by Victoria Educational Organisation. This was the third bridge-building project that Victoria has sponsored. Some parents, students and teachers from Victoria will visit the village in October. Please click here for more project details.
Site Location: Datan Village, Zhangjiachuan County, Tianshui City, Gansu 35 teacher and student volunteers from Hong Kong and Mainland China joined the Gansu Datan Joint Service Tour in April. They visited the village to finish the painting work for the centre and paving work for the clinic and library. They also delivered a series of educational activities to local students. The Foundation established collaborative relationship with student group from Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong and community service group of Victoria Shanghai Academy to recruit student volunteers for this service programme. Site Location: Macha Village, Dingjiagou Township, Huiling County, Gansu Sponsor: Swire Properties Hong Kong "Wu Zhi Qiao Service Learning Programme" was successfully launched under Project WeCan sponsored by Wharf China Limited. In July and August, two teacher and student teams from six secondary schools will visit Datan Village with university teams, to experience the culture and lives in the rural village, and conduct a series of livelihood improvement programmes in the village. Please click here for more project details. This project is led by Wu Zhi Qiao Research and Development Centre, with technical support provided by CRATerre-ENSAG International for Earth Construction (France) and UNESCO Earth Architecture. Through field tests and practical research, we hope to integrate western experience of earth house construction into traditional building techniques of Mainland China with a view to improving the durability and anti-seismic abilities of buildings with low construction cost. Macha Village has become the training ground for local craftsmen to learn about the modern techniques of building earth houses. The research achievements of this project will assist MoHURD to establish the related house construction regulations, and will be expected to be disseminated and promoted in policy making. In the past few months, the project team conducted a number of field studies in the village, educated villagers about the benefits of modern earth house construction techniques, completed tests on mechanical property of new earth materials and conducted anti-seismic experiments of building structure. We are planning to mobilize villagers to build a rammed earth house under the supervision and guidance of volunteers. The house was completed in the end of July.
Site Location: Ma'anqiao Village, Xin'an Township, Huili County, Liangshan State, Sichuan Sponsor: Lee Hysan Foundation In the past four years, Wu Zhi Qiao project team did a series of rebuild and livelihood improvement programmes in the village. The first job was the research and improvement of rammed-earth building techniques to enhance the anti-seismic performance, the stability and the comfort of the rural houses. We also built prototype houses and published a construction DIY manual to facilitate villagers to learn and rebuild their own houses at low cost. In addition, the Foundation mobolised volunteers to build a footbridge to improve commutation, and construct a village community centre with related public facilities like eco-toilets, water system and lighting, and educated villagers about health care and hygiene. The Foundation also mobolized the university teams to hold the project exhibition at a number of universities in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Chongqing University and Chongqing Jiaotong University, displaying the achievement of the Village Demonstration Project at Ma anqiao Village through exhibition panels and models of anti-seismic rammed-earth house, village centre and bridge. All our work had been completed. You are welcome to view the project details here. The Wu Zhi Qiao Student Interflow Camp was successfully held in Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village, Hong Kong from 3rd to 8th February. Close to 80 Wu Zhi Qiao student team members from 15 universities in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Taiwan participated in it. With experience gained from last year, this year s Interflow Camp beefed up its training programme to include more interactive discussion and practical training such as safety drills and discussion sessions on support work. Apart from enabling students to have a better understanding of the different aspects of project management, friendship was fostered through social activities such as barbeque and talent shows. The Foundation invited a trainer from Hong Kong St. John Ambulance and health care workers from Mainland China under the Foundation for Hong Kong's Future to deliver a first-aid course at Wu Zhi Qiao Research and Development Centre in the Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology. 26 students mainly from the core team members of Mainland universities attended the following courses: principles and practice of first-aid, bandaging techniques, Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation techniques, action at an emergency, outdoor first-aid practice, acupressure in first-aid, and handling and transportation of injured person. Through this training, students have acquired sufficient first-aid knowledge to deal with injuries incurred during survey and construction trips. They have also raised awareness of safety and the need for better preventive measures when implementing projects, thereby reduce the chance of injury.
On 3rd May, we set up an exhibition booth at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre in Wanchai to introduce the work of Wu Zhi Qiao to companies and NGOs. We hope that through this event, we will establish working relationship and enhance communication with companies, social enterprises and social services organisations. Student volunteers were engaged in the event to introduce the work and vision of the Foundation, and share their experiences with the general public. The "Bridging Hearts, Touching Souls" Exhibition will be held at Times Square in Causeway Bay between 4th and 16th of September. The Exhibition will showcase our achievements in these five years and aim to engage the general public to understand and experience the concept of Wu Zhi Qiao, and pledge their support in action. We are now preparing the Exhibition with the support of passionate volunteers who assist in designing publicity materials for the Exhibition. We have also called upon volunteers to contribute treasures they collected in the process of building bridges so that visitors can visualize the work of Wu Zhi Qiao and share the interesting stories behind. We would recruit docent and other volunteers to assist in the Exhibition. If you are interested to become one, please stay tuned! We will launch at least 5 more bridge projects in Xinping Village of Yunnan, Mixia Village of Yunnan, Pingbang Village of Guizhou and 2 projects in Tianshui City of Gansu. Left: Xinping Village, Mixia Village, Pingban Village
Following the success of last year's "Wu Zhi Xing" Charity Walk, which attracted participation from more than 1,600 Hong Kong citizens as well as students and teachers, the second "Wu Zhi Xing" will be held at Tai Tam Waterworks Heritage Trail on 25 Nov 2012. We hope to raise more funds this year. We have invited Mrs Carrie Lam, Secretary for Administration, and the Heads of participating institutions to officiate the event. A press conference will be held on 16th August to launch Wu Zhi Xing 2012. Enrolment will then follow. For enrolment details, please visit our website: http://www.bridge2china.org. Brandon Cheng (Arup Wu Zhi Qiao) As we enter into another year, I have a wish. I hope with time as I accumulate professional knowledge in civil engineering, my passion in helping those in need will only grow. I believe satisfaction is built on using my skills to shape a better environment for others. Videos on the work of the Foundation and individual Wu Zhi Qiao projects for public viewing. Watch them now on YouTube! http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=wzqcf2007 New webpage layout is now under construction and will soon be released! Stay tuned at our official website: www.bridge2china.org! Editorial Team Ms Rita Chan Ms Sharon Chow Mr James Cheng Ms Eleanor Fung Mr Christopher Hui Ms Doris Tam Mr Himmy Wong Mr Tom Wong Ms Sze Wai Wong Comments are welcome! Please send your comment on this newsletter to christopher.rita@gmail.com Wu Zhi Qiao (Bridge to China) Charitable Foundation T: +852 3943 1162 F : +852 3943 1163 W: www.bridge2china.org E: bridge2china@cuhk.edu.hk To unsubscribe, please let us know at bridge2china@cuhk.edu.hk