Adding Oil

Photo: Norman Ng for Mercy Corps

A displacement camp isn't an easy place for a child to live. Besides the confines of the camp structure, there is a lack of open, green play areas. Also, the very place is a daily reminder of the tragedy and trauma that has brought them and their families there.

In the Qinjianrenjia camp on the outskirts of the earthquake-stricken city of Dujiangyan, a few hundred children are living this reality each day. Hundreds of their friends and classmates are absent, having been sent by parents to live with relatives in other parts of China. Other friends were taken by the earthquake.

But, over the last several weeks, the camp's children have gotten a respite from the difficulties of life here. Dozens of caring volunteers, supported by Mercy Corps, are organizing play activities for kids and teachers using the Moving Forward methodology.

Moving Forward uses fun and games to help children get together, interact and begin to heal the hurt caused by the earthquake. This caring, proven approach is working, according to 24-year-old Zhang Xiaocui, who coordinates activities in the camp on behalf of the local Women's Federation.

"There are a lot of uncertainties among children: they have nothing to do on a daily basis, school is out and, since many of them experienced their schools collapsing, most children are nervous about going back to school at all," she said. "Moving Forward helps them share those feelings with us and other children. The children like it, and their parents are happy for them to participate."

Zhang Xiaocui. Photo: Norman Ng for Mercy Corps

More than 20 caregivers at this camp — mostly teachers, psychologists and volunteers — have attended Mercy Corps trainings to learn how to implement the Moving Forward activities. Since the beginning of July, they conducted activities for the camp's children three times per week. About 50 children have taken part each time.

We are lucky enough to be here on a day when Moving Forward activities are taking place. About 7:00 PM, we witness a few dozen children running gleefully toward a group of young women — caregivers — wearing white Mercy Corps t-shirts. The energy and enthusiasm of everyone involved is palpable.

One of the first activities is a race where children try to maneuver through orange cones with a ball between their legs, without dropping the ball. It looks hard but is, at the same time, incredibly silly looking. The laughter is infectious. In this moment, these children are only thinking about this game. There are no sad faces to be found. Dozens of older camp residents have also gathered around and, within minutes, their countenances invariably change from worry to joy.

As their friends continue to compete in the ball race, most of the children are chanting something. I ask 31-year-old Zhou Li, a local kindergarten teacher, what they're saying.

"Jiyiu," she said. "It means ‘add oil.' This is how children encourage each other to compete, to keep going. Even the team that has already won keeps cheering on the other teams until they all finish.

"We have seen the impact of these activities on the children, and the changes in their moods and behavior. At first, they were very nervous to be here. Now they're more open and involved. It's like they forgot to be afraid."

Over the next hour or so, the children will move between activities such as badminton, jump rope and ping-pong. At each activity change, the caregivers will take time to subtly discuss how they're feeling, drawing analogies between these games and what has happened over the last few months. And then, once tonight's activity has ended, the caregivers will gather together to evaluate what went well and what can be improved.

"The children have a lot more energy than usual tonight," said Zhou Li, "they're kind of all over the place."

Isn't that the way happy children should be?