Alcatel-Lucent is reaching out to support the children whose schools were destroyed in the May 12 earthquake in China’s Sichuan province that killed nearly 70,000 people and destroyed hundreds of communities. Working with the China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF) and the International Youth Foundation, the Alcatel-Lucent Foundation is equipping 14 temporary Hope schools with video and book libraries, along with sports equipment through a US$155,800 grant. This grant will help ensure that students between the ages of 6 and 12 who have been affected by the earthquake will be able to continue their schooling. Being able to play sports, read books, or even watch movies will help the children deal with the traumatic events they have experienced.

“Schools, even temporary ones, are places of refuge for young people as they provide a secure and nurturing environment where they can share their experiences and regain a sense of normalcy,” said Beatrice Tassot, Executive Director of the Alcatel-Lucent Foundation. “The Alcatel-Lucent Foundation wanted to help these children continue their education in spite of the devastation in their communities. Working with CYDF and IYF on this project has enabled us make a direct contribution to helping these children and their communities recover and rebuild.”

The temporary CYDF Hope schools will have from 10 to 40 classrooms, with each classroom able to accommodate about 50 students. Through the Alcatel-Lucent Foundation donation, each of the 14 schools will receive a digital movie projector, two screens, a sound system, a digital movie player and movies. Each school library will be able to house more than 1,000 children’s books on a wide range of topics that include history, math, and science. In addition, every school will be given sports equipment that will make it possible for the students to play volleyball, basketball, badminton, table tennis, and other sports as a result of the sports equipment package.

The Alcatel-Lucent Foundation and the International Youth Foundation have been working together since 2005 to improve educational opportunities among disadvantaged youth in 15 countries worldwide, through the Global Fund for Youth Development. The school project in the earthquake affected area represents a new phase in this ongoing partnership. CYDF, a leading organization serving young people in China, has worked closely with IYF over the years to support youth development initiatives and is a member of the IYF global partner network.