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Destroyed school re-opens

-- by Julie Tam, FOX 41 News

A local effort contributes to the re-opening of a school destroyed more than one year ago in an earthquake on the other side of the globe. Kentuckians donated $120,000 and countless hours, so earthquake survivors in China now have a new elementary school.

University of Louisville math professor Wei-Bin Zeng smiles from ear to ear when he talks about the project he has spearheaded after seeing the devastation following a massive earthquake that killed 70,000 people in China's Sichuan province. "This is the tie between Louisville and that school," he said.

A photo exhibit at the main branch of the Louisville Free Public Library shows the destruction and the re-construction of one school in particular: Xiang-E Elementary in the city of Chengdu.

"When I heard that the school passed the inspection, it's such a joy that we worked on it so hard and we worked on it for almost a year," Zeng said. "And now we are sure that we have a school."

The newly-rebuilt school opened this week, with Louisville's footprint all over it. One classroom wall is lined with ceramic tiles decorated by local students, including Meyzeek Middle School 8th grader Emily Zeng: "To see people your age that have gone through so much, you just reach out and try to help them."

Emily went to China with her father to help unpack the tiles shipped for free by UPS. Donations from other Kentucky philanthropists will go toward art, science and music programs, a new library, and a rainwater recycling system.

Wei-Bin Zeng said, "So this is done with the reconstruction but also a beginning of the more exciting programs" for more than 300 elementary school students.

"If you're in a bubble all the time, you never know what's really out there," his daughter, Emily, said. "So reach out a little bit. Help other people in other countries that are in more need than you are. And it'll make a big difference."

UofL's School of Music donated a set of instruments and will support the Sichuan Music Conservatory, which will train music teachers at Xiang-E School. They'll also assist in a music therapy program to help earthquake survivors.

You can see the Chengdu Earthquake photo exhibit through the end of the month at the Louisville Main Library in the Bernheim Gallery. Click on the link in the column to the right for more information.