A week-long donation drive at the SSA Headquarters following the SSA Family Day event on 11th August raised $5,671.25 to support the humanitarian efforts for victims of the Gansu earthquake in China.
On 22nd July, 2013 Gansu Province in China was struck by two powerful earthquakes, killing 89 people and injuring more than 500 as buildings collapsed. In response to the plight of the victims, Singapore Soka Association (SSA) immediately replied to Mercy Relief, a humanitarian organisation, to support its emergency relief efforts in the quake affected areas.
At Soka Kindergarten (SK) the appeal for donations received similar response from the children. The children had been creating digital artwork during their Creative Computer lessons and the school donated half of the proceeds from the sale of digital art at their recent 20th anniversary celebration.
On behalf of SSA and SK, Mr Ong Chin Chong, SSA Chairman, Roy Yuen & Tan Jun En (two of the digital artists) presented cheques of $10,000 and $2542.05 respectively to Mr Jaffar Mydin, Executive Director of Mercy Relief, at a cheque presentation ceremony at the Ikeda Culture Auditorium on September 8.
In his speech Mr Jaffar Mydin commended SSA for being a reliable and long-time partner and supporter of Mercy Relief’s humanitarian endeavours since their collaboration from end 2004 after the Indian Ocean Tsunami struck Sri Lanka and Indonesia. He also congratulated the students, including their parents and teachers, for their help and support to fellow human beings in times of need. He believed that “value creation” through humanistic education is truly advocated by the school founder and SGI President Daisaku Ikeda.