Tsunami Initiative

News of the Asian tsunami inspired an unprecedented outpouring of generosity as donors around the world supported emergency relief efforts. But the people struck by the catastrophe will continue to face the challenge of rebuilding and recovery for a very long time.

Especially for Students
Children were especially hard hit by the disaster; many of their teachers were lost as well. Elsewhere, school children and teachers have thrown themselves into tsunami relief fund-raising. SHS has worked to bring these groups together in partnerships that support long-term recovery and foster ties between cultures.

Funds raised through the SHS program have been used to cover school tuition and cost of lunch and school transportation for orphaned students, to purchase bicycles for students whose families were displaced and relocated to outlying areas to be able to get to/from school, and to buy uniforms, textbook, and other school supplies for hundreds of affected students. Funds have also been donated to schools to support rebuilding of classrooms and sanitation facilities and replacing library books, furniture, computers, and lab equipment damaged by the Tsunami.

Supporting the Teachers
Many teachers lost their lives in the Tsunami, and their absence was sorely felt as their schools struggled to return to normal.  Schools-Helping-Schools scholarship fund helped student teachers who lost their means of support to complete their training.  SHS also worked with education officials to provide curriculum support to help teachers help students deal with the disaster.

Teachers working in the devastated region have identified the most pressing needs of affected schools and their students and have worked with SHS to ensure funds were targeted at the areas of most immediate need.

To learn more about the East-West Center's overall Tsunami relief efforts click here.

Join Us
Schools, community groups, and individuals interested in supporting a school-to-school project should contact the AsiaPacificEd Program at the points given below:

AsiaPacificEd Program, East-West Center
1601 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96848
Phone: 808-944-7378; Fax: 808-944-7070
Email:asiapacificed@eastwestcenter.org
Web: www.AsiaPacificEd.org