Xiao Hua has cerebral palsy, and writes more slowly than other students. But she's never done better in school.
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One year after the Sichuan earthquake, World Vision is rebuilding Xiao Hua’s school.  Xiao Hua loves her new back-to-school kit and, although affected by cerebral palsy, has astounded family and teachers with her progress in school.

“Mathematics gets passed ,” says nine-year-old Xiao Hua, with great excitement.  She talks slowly and in short sentences, as she has cerebral palsy.  Her family has been surprised by her achievements. 

 “Her scholastic record astonished everyone in the family. We never dreamed she could do so well,” says Xiao Hua’s grandfather, joyfully. He adds that she laughs a lot these days.

Nearly one year has passed since  the 8.0 magnitude earthquake hit Sichuan, China, wreaking havoc on the lives of Xiao Hua and thousands of other children.  More than a million homes and schools collapsed from the jolt of the massive tremor.  Xiao Hua’s school, in Shaanxi Province, was one of them.
 
Back on track

Xiao Hua credits the back-to-school kit from World Vision with helping her get back on track.  Thousands of children received kits containing school supplies and disaster-preparedness handbooks.

When asked about the school kit, Xiao Hua promptly lists off the items: “Dictionary, school bag, a water bottle.  Too beautiful – loves to use so much.”

Xiao Hua works into the night to complete her homework assignments, as she writes more slowly than other students.  Still, says her teacher, the girl rarely submits assignments late.

Complicated emotions 

When Xiao Hua first returned to school after the quake, classes were held in a tent.  She endured the heat of the summer and the small space, together with 29 classmates. 

A prefabricated classroom was erected after this, and now World Vision has subsidized the construction of a new school ($261,000 )
to be completed in May. 

When asked how she feels about the new school, Xiao Hua remains quiet, as she’s still sad about her ruined school building.  It is hard for her to express complicated emotions.

Love of learning

Xiao Hua’s teacher shares the changes he’s observed in his student over the past year.

“She likes learning,” he says.  “No matter how bad the weather is.  She is seldom late for school and she raises her hand to answer simple questions in class.”

“She’s grown taller this year and enjoys jumping rope with friends. Though she does not jump so high, she is glad to hold the rope for her classmates.  Her movements are more nimble than before and now she joins the queue to raise the national flag,” says the teacher.

No matter what

On school days, Xiao Hua’s mother or grandfather brings her to school, using a bicycle.  Her father works outside the village and comes home once a year.

“Sometimes, the weather is extremely bad, resulting in slippery roads,” says Xiao Hua’s grandfather. But even when it snows she would insist on going to school.”