On the afternoon of May 30th, "2008 Disaster Relief and Children’s Day Gifts" Donation Ceremony was held in the conference room of China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA).

This donation ceremony was initiated and organized by CCAA, supported and participated by 31 adoption agencies and individuals from USA, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Belgium and Iceland etc. Altogether 1.21 million yuan was raised, among which materials and facilities worth 800 thousand yuan will be used for the reconstruction of social welfare institutions in the disaster areas. On May 26th, donated materials including 1440 packages of powdered milk and 14400 paper diapers were transported overland to Sichuan Province with the coordination of CCAA.

Director General of CCAA Lu Ying made a general introduction about the activity and expressed gratitude to the adoption agencies, charity organizations and individuals on behalf of CCAA and beneficiaries, especially the orphaned and disabled children and welfare institutes. He also indicated that CCAA will continue to contribute to the reconstruction of affected areas as a bridge linking warfare institutes, foreign adoption agencies and charitable people.

Li Li, Deputy-Director of Chengdu Children’s Warfare Institute, made a special trip here and addressed the ceremony, indicating that people in disaster areas will certainly be able to surmount the disaster and rebuild their homeland with the leadership of the Communist Party, the guidance of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the support from CCAA and all sectors of the society.

Dou Yupei, Vice-Minister of Civil Affairs, was present at the ceremony and addressed the children in all the orphanages nationwide, extending his sincere greetings for the Children’s Day, especially to the children in disaster area. He also said that at present departments of civil affairs are taking various measures to arrange the life of children who have lost their families in the disaster or were separated from their families for the moment. It is believed that through the joint efforts of all people, children in disaster areas will be able to overcome the difficulties and enjoy a healthy growth under the same blue sky.

Also present at the ceremony were Gan Weiwei, Director of Department II of Social Welfare and Social Affairs Division of Ministry of Civil Affairs, Jiao Yuqin, Director of Chinese department of Christian World Adoption, and representatives from Beijing and Tianjin Warfare Institutes. Advisor of CCAA Zhang Zhong hosted the ceremony.

Prior to the donation ceremony, all participants observed one minute of silent tribute for the victims of “May 12” earthquake.