By Miss Shijing Zhu
At the beginning of 2020, news of the COVID-19 outbreak in China brought sorrow, as this novel disease spread rapidly and fiercely. Thankfully, the unified Chinese people courageously united to combat it. In a matter of days, emergency hospitals were erected; tens of thousands of medical professionals rushed to the epicenter to save lives; from esteemed academician Zhong Nanshan and numerous medical experts, tirelessly dedicated to the cause, to countless ordinary citizens rallying together for epidemic control. We yearned for the freedom of breathing fresh air, but prioritized the safety and health that masks provided for everyone. However, it wasn’t just in China; Durham Chinese School, though far away in the UK, also made small but heartfelt efforts to show solidarity with everyone facing the pandemic, both in China and globally: in times of crisis, we stand united with a shared destiny. Fundraising to donate to hospitals, online community teaching activities, sending support to Wuhan, procuring and collecting medical protective equipment—Durham Chinese School was always in action. Yet, in early March, the unfortunate happened, and the COVID-19 pandemic ultimately erupted in the UK. In just over a month, official infection cases in the UK had surged to 98,476 (as of April 16, 2020), with deaths exceeding 10,000. Behind these seemingly cold numbers lay countless broken families and profound grief. Due to differences in healthcare systems, UK medical staff faced significant challenges in securing medical protective equipment. Despite their life-saving skills, healthcare workers’ physical bodies found it difficult to openly withstand the rampant virus. Durham Chinese School learned of this situation through various media channels, recognizing that whether the fight was in China or abroad, we would always be there.
On March 30, at the call of Durham Chinese School Head Teacher Mr Haoyang Liu, Durham Chinese School actively responded by donating £1,200 to the UK Department of Health, which included this semester’s teaching salary donated by former GCSE teacher Ms Shufei Shu. Through the joint efforts of Durham Chinese School and various regional Chinese schools, a total of £46,144.00 was donated to NHS trusts and hospitals across the UK, and £40,201.35 was donated to Public Health England to procure medical supplies for pandemic control. Additionally, on March 29, Mrs Amy Scott, a parent from the Chinese school, was reported by UK media for raising £5,000 in just five days through a fundraising campaign to purchase medical supplies for healthcare workers. The virus is ruthless, but humanity is compassionate; fighting the pandemic is a shared responsibility for all humankind, and Durham Chinese School has always been in action.
During the pandemic, when a Durham University student felt unwell, Ms. Dan Shao, a a warm-hearted parent from Durham Chinese School, upon hearing the news, immediately purchased various medicines and food, delivering warmth, care, and encouragement to the isolated student. With the care and concern from Ms Dan Shao and many other Durham residents, the student eventually recovered and overcame the illness. The distance between hearts narrowed through collective efforts against the pandemic, and Durham Chinese School has always been there for you.
7 Day store, a Chinese supermarket beloved by Durham’s Chinese parents, students, and teachers, also joined forces with Durham Chinese School to support those facing challenges during the pandemic. Ms. Hongyan Cai of Xi Duo decided to offer special discounts for Durham Chinese School teachers and volunteers. During the pandemic, all Chinese supermarket products, vegetables, and bread/cakes at Xi Duo were offered at a 32% discount to the school’s teachers and volunteers, in gratitude for their efforts for the children during this difficult period. Fighting the pandemic is not the responsibility of just one person or one group. With 7 Day store, we stand together.
Learning never stops, even amidst the pandemic’s challenges; Durham Chinese School has not ceased its core work, and our courses continue. Teaching Chinese characters and spreading Chinese culture is not only to help children interested in China learn Chinese and recognize characters, but also, in these particularly challenging times, to embody a spirit of collective resilience. “With one heart and one mind, we build a great wall; when one is in trouble, support comes from all sides”—Chinese culture teaches us to stand united in facing shared challenges. We believe the power of unity can help us overcome difficulties together. Durham Chinese courses have consistently been online.
Though the pandemic was terrifying, it could not defeat our unified spirit. While fear is a natural instinct, fearlessness is our firm conviction. The leaders, teachers, and volunteers of Durham Chinese School would always be there. In China, there was a shared vision: “At the end of Jihai year, in the spring of Gengzi, a great plague struck Jingchu, infecting tens of thousands; people were in a panic, the entire nation defended, all stayed indoors. Zhong Nanshan stood guard over the south, leading tens of thousands of medical professionals to combat it, and with the entire nation united, within a month, the plague subsided, and the country was prosperous and peaceful.” Similarly, Durham Chinese residents also held the same belief: “The epidemic is ruthless, and I believe that spring will always come!” When the pandemic eventually recedes, we will together appreciate the clouds rolling by and recite brilliant poems. Durham Chinese School, we are always there.
2020年新冠疫情响应：同呼吸共命运，我们一直都在
作者：朱施静
新年伊始，中国国内传来新冠肺炎爆发的噩耗，这种新型疾病传染速度之快，来势凶猛。好在团结的中国国民万众一心，勇于抗击。一声令下，数十日一座防疫医院拔地而起；数万白衣天使奔赴疫中，挽救生命；上至年迈的钟南山院士及多位医学专家们，老骥伏枥，志在千里；下至无数普通百姓众志成城，防控疫情。我们不是不渴望自由呼吸新鲜空气的自由，但更珍惜戴上口罩为你我带来的平安健康。然而，不仅是在国内，杜伦中文学校虽远在重洋的英国，也在通过自己微小但赤忱的努力向国内外所有同胞们表示：疫情当头，我们同呼吸共命运。筹款捐助医院，线上公民教学活动，为武汉送去爱心和鼓励，采购募集医疗防护用具……杜伦中文学校一直都在行动。然而在三月上旬不幸的事情发生了，新冠疫情最终还是在英国爆发了。仅一月余，英国官方感染病例已攀升到了98476例（2020.4.16），死亡人数超过了10000之多。看似冰冷的数字背后，是无数的家破人亡，离别悲痛。由于英国医疗体系的不同，英国的医护人员面临着比当初国内更为严重的医疗防护用品短缺的困境。纵有一身救死扶伤的本领，医护人员的血肉之躯也难以赤裸地抵挡病毒的肆掠侵袭。杜伦中文学校也从各方媒体渠道了解了这一现状，不管是国内还是国外的抗疫战役，我们也一直都在。
3月30日，在杜伦中文学校校长刘浩洋的号召之下，杜伦中文学校积极响应并向英国卫生部捐助了1200镑，其中包括了原GCSE舒淑飞老师捐献了这学期的教学工资。通过杜伦中文学校及各地区中文学校的共同努力，共计46,144.00英镑的善款捐助给了英国各个地区的NHS 和医院，共计40,201.35英镑捐助给了英国Public Health England用于抗击疫情购买医疗物资。除此之外，3月29日中文学校的一名家长Amy Scott被英国媒体报道，在发起的短短五日募捐活动中筹集到了5000英镑，用于为医护人员购买医疗物资。病毒无情，人有情，抗击疫情是全人类共同的担当，杜伦中文学校一直在行动。
疫情期间，一名杜伦学生出现身体不适，杜伦中文学校热心家长邵丹女士得知这个消息后，立刻购买各种药品和食物，为隔离的杜伦大学学生送去温暖关心和鼓励。在邵丹女士及众多杜伦同胞的关心牵挂下，该同学最终恢复了健康，战胜了病魔。心与心之间的间隙在共同抗疫中缩小，杜伦中文学校一直陪伴着你。
喜多是一家杜伦中国家长学生老师都爱去的中国超市，也在和杜伦中文学校一起，为帮助疫情困境中的同胞加油鼓劲。喜多的蔡红艳女士决定为杜伦中文学校老师及志愿者提供优惠活动。疫情期间，喜多全店中超产品，蔬菜和面包蛋糕一律以68折的优惠供应中文学校的老师和志愿者们，感谢大家在这段艰难的时期为孩子们做出的努力。抗疫，不是一个人一个群体的责任。喜多，我们站在一起。
停课不停学，纵使疫情危难，杜伦中文学校也没有停止自己本职的工作，我们的课程仍在继续。教授中文汉字传播中华文化，不仅是为了让对中国感兴趣的孩子们学习中文认识汉字，更在于在这种特殊的危难时刻发扬中国精神的作用。万众一心，众志成城，一方有难，八方资源……中华文化教育我们同呼吸共命运，相信团结的力量能使我们共同度过难关。杜伦中文课程一直在线上。
疫情虽然可怕，但却不能打败我们凝聚一心的中国心。畏惧虽然是本能，但无畏是我们坚定的信仰。杜伦中文学校的领导，老师，志愿者们会一直都在。国内有着“己亥末，庚子春。荆楚大疫，染者数万计；众惶恐，举国防，皆闭户，南山镇守江南都，率白衣郎中数万抗之，且九州一心，月余，疫尽去，国泰民安……”的愿景；远在他乡异国的杜伦同胞们也有着同样的信念，The epidemic is ruthless, and I believe that spring will always come! 待到疫情消逝时，我们一同共赏云卷云舒，共吟灿烂诗篇。杜伦中文学校，我们一直都在。