Just about this time General Chiang Kai-shek made an appeal to have the industries of China kept in China. Chinese embroidery, as every one knows, is world-famed—and this industry was being threatened—its loss would take away the livelihood of thousands jof women workers. Also just about this same time as one went in and out of the refugee camps one was struck with the pathos of (seeing hundreds of men and women sitting and lying around idle—idleness so demoralize ing that one could not but tremble at the thought of the future. Investigation soon proved that there were several thousand trained embroidery workers in the various Camps.
Three stupendous facts:—
Jdleness and its inevitable demoralization must be overcome.
"Those who did not know any handicraft or trade must be taught, "Those who had previously been eng-P in some handicraft or trade must "Work.
Here wás the basis for a rehabilitation scheme. The "lost" workers were at hand in the camps, they 5 wanted work, and the merchants wanted their work; China wanted and needed both merchant and worker. Why not use our camps to 3 get them together?
Just because force of circumstances had made these men and women homeies: why should @haritable Organizations try to make them "charity cases" when work was waiting for them? These people are anxious to earn money, anxious to help pay for their food. The Shang-bal International Red Cross, is, as Dr. Baker has already pointed out interested in a rehabilitation scheme undertaken by its Projects Com-mitre. The scheme is only in the experimental stage, but any one who wishes to visit the Training Camp and Industrial Camp in 268 Elgin Road, Lane 17 and in 730 Boone Road (corner of N. Honan) will be given a warm welcome. In the former place, ie. Elgin Road, Mr. P. C. Lee and Mr. M. Francis Waung, representing the Federation of Shanghai Charity Organizations for Relief Work are holding themselves responsible for che initial training of workers; when trained these refugees report to and work in the Industrial (Camp in Boone Road, and receive full pay for their work. This "Training Camp" and "Industrial, Camp" together constitute the rehabilitation scheme being carried out by the Projects Committee of the Shanghai International Red Cross, Training in one camp and paid labour in another means a considerable &mount of extra work and supervising, and we hope soon to locate both camps in one place.
So far we have only mentioned embroidery work—but basket work and straw weaving is also being done. Embroidery work and basket work involve a small amount of car-pantry, ie. moulds for the baskets and frames for the embroidery—men and boys are being employed for this type of work; and, one thing leading io another, it has already been suggested that we start the making of wooden toys in the carpentry room. This will be done if we can get a definite market for the finished articles Again, in a little back yard some time ago I saw quite a number of young men and boys making tea and biscuit tins. This being easy work and requiring very little outlay we feel. we might approach the tin merchants, and ask their cooperation, thus utilizing men and boys whose fingers were not quite deft enough to make a suc of basket or toy making. the refugee when he or she finally leaves Camp. The refugees each have their own savings deposit bank cord, and know at all times just how much money they have saved. And how different their outlook on leaving the Camp. How wonderful to then ie know that they at least have some food money in hand, and little towards rent and possible rehabilitation, How different the out-sook from the Charity Organizatiot point of view—no longer feeling that refugees have to be turned out ai camps penniless, The above is a rehabilitation scheme. We need help.
Who will help us?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.