'China Youth Daily' and the 'Post' launch New Year donation drive
'China Youth Daily' and the 'Post' launch New Year donation drive
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
On the occasion of the Spring Festival (Lunar New Year) in China,
one of that country's leading newspapers, the China Youth Daily,
and The Jakarta Post have launched a joint fund-raising campaign
using text messages in cooperation with the TOM website and the
China Children's and Teenagers' Fund for Tsunami Orphans, the
China Youth Daily's legal affairs editor, Yang Liangqing,
announced in Beijing recently.
Chinese people can participate by sending text messages to
orphans in the tsunami-affected areas and donating 1 yuan (12
U.S. cents) to them.
"Participants can send number 1 to 8858 (similar sound to the
Chinese words "Help Me") and contribute 1 yuan to them. Please
let those children (orphans) feel the human touch when they long
for the embrace of their mothers. One can send best wishes to
8858," Yang said.
Between Jan. 19 and Feb. 6, the sponsors received 720,000 yuan
as well as 36,000 greeting messages. These figures may increase
significantly on and after the Chinese Lunar New Year, which fell
on Wednesday.
All the donations will be handed over to the Chinese Red Cross
Federation and then will be given directly to the tsunami
victims.
Here are some selected text messages received by the sponsors
of the program:
* Happy New Year! All the older people around the world are our
own parents, and all the babies on the earth are our own
children. No matter how bad life can be, have faith in this
world. -- 139****4331
* Nations have borders while love is boundless. We are all
together to build a beautiful home. -- 138****1817
* I am an ordinary person. All I want to do is something ordinary
to help you find hope in ordinary life. 135****2221
* We are there for you! Happy New Year! -- 139****0340
* Act strong! The nightmare is gone. There's a beautiful dawn
waiting for you. -- 136****1302
* Grow up in love, and hold love as a grown-up. I don't have
babies, but all the children around the world are my babies. Love
has the eternal continuity. -- 139****4331