International Save the Children Alliance
Voices from the China Earthquake
Jiang Xiantao, 11, was at school when an earthquake struck Sichuan Province on 12 May 2008.
Jiang Xiantao's story
Although Jiang Xiantao and her classmates survived the earthquake, many children were killed and her school was badly damaged. Because her mother died when she was little and her father had left to look for work in the city, she lived with her grandmother who has been missing since the earthquake.
"When the earthquake struck we were having a nap on the second floor or our school. Once the building started to shake, we realised it was an earthquake. All the students rushed down to the ground floor and into the playground. Nobody had time to think of hiding under their desks.
"Half of our school buildings collapsed. Most of my classmates got away but some of them were injured. A few of our teachers were buried. There were a few students in grades one and two who couldn't get out fast enough. They are still buried.
"Two hours after the earthquake, rescue troops arrived. Until yesterday [Wednesday 14 May], children were still being found under the ruins but few of them were alive. Some bodies have no heads.
"Many of my classmates have been sent to live with their relatives in other places. My best friend's mother is a kindergarten teacher who was killed when her building collapsed. Her father worked in another city but came back yesterday. I don't know where they're living now.
"My mother died when I was young and my father got a job in a city outside Sichuan. He came back the day before yesterday, and is searching for my grandmother in the mountain. She was working at a brick kiln when the earthquake happened."
"I don't think we can go back to school this September. I have no idea what our future will be like."
What we're doing
Most schools in the areas affected by the earthquake have collapsed or are damaged. As the earthquake happened during school hours, many of those killed and injured are children.
After carrying out a needs assessment with Deyang Red Cross, Save the Children is planning to set up children's centres, which will provide emergency relief and psychological support to the children who have been deeply affected by this disaster. We also plan to do teacher training to ensure the affected children still have access to basic education and health services.
How you can help
Learn more about our response in China and how you can help.