On May 18, 2008 the administration of Best Educational Organization, the children, their parents and relatives congregated in the newly-developed north section of Zhengzghou to take part in a very important charity event. The event organized by Best was intended to gather funds and goods to aid those affected by the devastating earthquake in Sichuan province. Well over 300 people attended the event to show their care and support for their compatriots in need.

The activities in this event were varied, but all had the same purpose: helping the victims of the earthquake. Some teachers and students chanted ¡°You are not alone¡±, a song composed and interpreted by famous American singer Michael Jackson. Others worked at the recycling station collecting plastic bottles, cans, newspapers and magazines, later to be sold to the recycling plant. A third group of teachers and students set up a station to sell water, quilts and other urgently needed items as a way of raising extra funds. Both the money collected at these stations as well as the goods purchased will serve to help the people in Sichuan.

The spirit of all the attendants was high, thus the amount collected quickly surpassed the 300,000 yuan mark, including a 100,000 yuan donated by the school. This amount is currently increasing as a result of the school¡¯s effort to encourage its business community to support the initiative and donate more funds. Helping those in need is a long-term activity, and not just a one day charity event. Sichuan will not be able to raise back from its ruins in just a couple of days or months; it may take a decade or even more for those affected by the earthquake to be able to rebuild their lives.

As an educational institution, Best feels great responsibility when it comes to helping the children in Sichuan who are now without schools, books or teachers. It is because of this that the administration at Best has decided to take the bull by the horns taking an active role in the reconstruction of Sichuan, particularly in the city of Mianyang, one of the most affected. In the months to come Best will begin the construction of a school, designed to withstand 7 degree intensity earthquakes and capable of housing a student population of well over 300 students.

Helping the victims of the quake rebuild their homes, schools and lives is everyone¡¯s duty. We must all do as much as we possibly can, just as we¡¯d like others to do if we ourselves were in need. Let¡¯s give a hand to those in Sichuan, let¡¯s give a hand to the people of China. Jiayou!