Sichuan

The hottest topic around is still wit Sichuan. Yesterday, the council of my hospice care NGO held a meeting and expressed the grave concern on the mental state of these family members who are left alive and orphaned in the calamity. The grieving process takes months sometimes years depending on individual. The fact many agencies showing good intention have sent volunteered counselors in this stage has little effect for the needy. Bereavement is a healing process that time plays an important part. The council suggests that let things get settled before sending in volunteers and we are aware the long commitment to the process which could take years. We have therefore assigned several hundred thousand dollars as reserve to fund the program and more resource would be forthcoming. We also notice language is a major barrier and the council take a position that our expertise lies with the setting up framework and training to backup local counselors who are in much better position to do the field works. We have experienced some great team works which one won't find among NGOs, not even in Tsunami several years ago.