China Day 3

The first thing on today's agend was to present The International Artists with Disabilities Award to Shasha Mou.  Since its inception in 1996, the Phoenix Sister Cities Disabilities Awareness Committee (DAC) has been working towards improving awareness in the city of Phoenix and its member Sister Cities.  Shasha Mou, age 21, attends the Sichuan New Modern Training College.  She was injured in the 2008 earthquake.

The Phoenix delegation was given a tour of the schools facilities for preschoolers and early elementary aged children.  There was nothing architecturally remarkable about the school but the care for the children was most evident.  Special therapy for individual needs was provided  with a low teacher/student ratio.  The children were delightful and excited to interact with the visitors.


From the pedestrian bridge linking the elementary school to the vocational training high school we spotted a very sweet scene in the park below - a group of retirees waltzing in the dappled shade of the park's trees.  Workers in China retire at age 55.  Most often they become the caretakers of their grandchild.  They enjoy lots of activities like dancing.


The vocational school for handicapped students (15-20) teaches young adults the skills needed to work in factories and on assembly lines.  They were being taught to put together small components and painting plastic and paper products.  The school also teaches the arts and crafts that are famous in Sichuan Provence.  Very fine silk embroidery, cloisonne, sewing, etc.

Six buses filled with Sister Cities delegates passed through the streets of Chengdu with relative ease.  Chengdu, a city with 14 million residents, made way for the police escorted buses through out the week. The next event was the Opening Ceremony of the Photo Exhibition at Kuan and Zhai Alleys.  Each of the participating cities displayed photographs depicting life, nature, business, and the people of their city.

               

Scenes of Phoenix

Delegates - Gisors, France