Update Regarding Earthquake In China

In an effort to provide our families with the most up-to-date information, we are staying in contact with our guides in-country, monitoring the major news outlets, and watching for updates from credible organizations like Half The Sky.  On their website, Half The Sky reports, “We have reached the three orphanages where Half the Sky operates programs: Chengdu, Chongqing and Yibin. All is well. At each place, the children were all evacuated until the tremors passed. The buildings suffered no great damage. And no child was injured.†

For continuous updates, please reference their website at http://www.halfthesky.org/.   Other main news sources like  http://www.cnn.com/ and http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/default.stm will continue to cover the situation in China.  If you are wondering how you can help, please see Half The Sky’s Children’s Earthquake Fund to donate emergency funds for disaster response and recovery that will go directly to orphanages and children in the most affected areas.

Please be assured that all America World families currently traveling in China are safe and out of harms way.  For families who are traveling to China, we do not anticipate that your travel will be delayed or interrupted due to the recent earthquake.   Please join us in praying for China; for their government as it responds to their citizens; for the families who have lost loved ones;  and for all those affected and those aiding with relief and recovery.