Students and staff of the Institute For Tourism Studies (IFT) have raised MOP23,800.00 for the Qinghai Yushu earthquake victims. Donation was transferred to the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao S.A.R. on 29 April by Registrar, Mr. Antonio Chu and IFT Student Union representatives. The IFT delegation was received by Mr. Wu Xu Peng, Deputy Division Director of Department of Culture and Education. The relentless 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Tibetan region on 14 April. The death toll in Qinghai Yushu city has climbed over 2000 and hundred thousand others have lost their homes and loved ones. The high altitude and freezing weather has made rescue difficult. The compatriots in Macao have expressed their sympathy and deep condolence and IFT, in order to offer aid to the victims of this devastating quake, organised the “Water Conservation Fund Raising Activity” to combine the water conservation with charity. In recent years, Macao has been facing the threat of salinity. The continuous support from the upstream provinces in supplying us fresh water has largely relieved the threat, especially during the severest draught in the last hundred years. IFT would like to take this opportunity to arouse the students and staff awareness in treasuring our resources while raising fund for Qinghai Yushu earthquake relief, to reassert the concept that “every drop counts”. The activity is highly support by the Water Conservation Workgroup who sponsored 500 water saving taps to the activity. Fund raising points were set up at the Main campus, Taipa Campus and the 2 training units – Pousada de Mong-Há and Educational Restaurant and students, staff and guests of the training units who made donations, would receive a water saving tap as compliment. The students have experienced the patriotic sentiments of Macao people who are always ready to give a helping hand to our compatriots in the disaster area. Through the selfless donations of our community, it is believed that the promise by President, Hu Jintao to the students of Yushu city, “There will be new schools! There will be new homes!” will soon be fulfilled. Registrar and representatives of Student Union of IFT transferred the donation to Liaison OfficeIFT staff and student contribute to the fund with an open heart
