Ysgol Llanllechid raises hundreds for China

Oct 1 2008 By Daniel Bissett

PUPILS and staff at a Bethesda primary school have been thanked for helping to raise more than £500 for earthquake victims in China.

Ysgol Llanllechid is twinned with Yu Daishan in Chongqing, and last week, Ms Hong Li, principal of the school visited the Ogwen Valley school.

The Welsh pupils raised the money for the earthquake appeal when a previous visit in May 2008 was cancelled because of the nearby Sichuan Earthquake.

The money raised went towards the China Red Cross appeal and was presented to Andrew Lui, of the North Wales Chinese Association, and manager of the Garden Hotel in Bangor.

This time, Llanllechid pupils were delighted to welcome their distinguished Chinese visitor and to hear her say "thank you" for their support of the earthquake victims in the Far East.

Headteacher, Gwenan Davies Jones said: "Hong Li was a superb representative of her school and country; she charmed us all, taught the children some wonderful songs, relayed video messages from pen- pals to their Welsh friends, and discussed educational cooperation with staff.

"The successful visit was coordinated by the British Council and we were very grateful for the visit by the project officer, Llywelyn Lehnert and for the help with interpreters."

Besides Llanllechid, three other headteachers from China visited their partner schools in Holyhead, Llangefni and Tremadog.

Year Six pupil Aran said: "It was great to hear from my pen-pal and I got photos as well.

"I learnt a lot and I had a chance to say ‘xie xie’ (thank you) to her as well, and Ms Li sang so beautifully, I thought it was like music from the Mulan film."

The partnership between Yu Daishan school and Ysgol Llanllechid was first established in May 2007 as part of the Welsh Assembly and British Council initiative of establishing ties with the Chongqing area of China.

Current curriculum cooperation for 2008-9 between the two schools includes a joint poetry project.