China Quake Survivors Strive for Direction to New Life

• Source: Xinhua
• [16:45 May 05 2009]
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Jia Dechun, director of the makeshift housing area for residents from old Beichuan County, said that less than half of the 7,000 jobless people in his area have found employment, although local government has organized vocational training and provided job information.

Jia said they used to earn a living by house-leasing or running smaller businesses, which didn't require any skills or much physical strength.

"They can't accept the new life style that they have to make more efforts than before to feed their families," Jia said, adding that they have to change their mind before looking for jobs.

Jia admitted it's not easy for them to change.

Fu Huajian, 42, a resident in the region, was former headman at construction sites. He couldn't find post-quake employment until recently.

"I'm too old to compete with younger job hunters. Now I'm living on the deposit," said Fu, whose 17-year-old son died in the quake.

He and some friends enrolled in a driving school hoping they could get licenses and become drivers.

Jia said that employment remained the biggest pressure for him at the moment.

"A job is very important for people here because it helps people forget grief and look forward into a brighter future," he said.

Tian Fugang was lucky to have fixed his goal -- trying to catch up with his teammate Dong Chao, who won a bronze medal in the men's air rifle event at last year's Paralympics.

"I cherish this opportunity very much and will practice hard in order to go to London for the next Paralympics," he said.