The Institute for International Studies in Education (IISE), School of Education, has been doing donation collection for those impacted with the corona virus. The donation is in the form of an encouragement e-card. It is a card with a message of love, hope and empathy to show supports to individuals and families during this rough time.
Through website and social media channels, IISE invites anyone to join the e-cards project by creating encouragement messages in a form of pictures, writings or videos. Anyone may send their e-cards to encouragements@pitt.edu
The IISE encouragement card project began in early February 2020. It started with one picture of IISE team members holding different encouragement cards. The picture was sent to IISE alumni and connection in Wuhan and Hubei province area, in China.
As intended, the very first card went viral in a relatively short time, reaching out individuals directly and indirectly impacted by the pandemic. The picture was reposted and reshared by many in WeChat—China’s messenger application. Xi Wang, IISE project coordinator, also created a short slide of encouragement and posted it on IISE social media channels, such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Many shares and passes it along to their friends and relatives in China and beyond.
The impacts of these e-cards are authentic. Xi Wang reported how far the e-card has travelled through online platforms. “Friends and IISE visiting scholars in China saw the e-card. They reached out to me. They felt supported and thanked IISE for the e-cards,” Many Chinese students also conveyed their appreciations to IISE in person and online. They shared the e-card and the slide to their families, colleagues and friends in China.
With the help of many volunteers and Pitt students, IISE now have received more than two hundreds e-cards and counting. Posted on the IISE website up to this day are ecards from the School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, the Shanchai Nursery, students of Xi'an Bodi Junior High School, students of Xi'an Bodi Senior High School, students of Xi'an Bodi Primary School, China, and students of Xi'an Fengdong Concord College of Sino-Canada, as well as those from individuals.
IISE is inviting more volunteers to help spread the links and/or the encouragement pictures to anyone or any groups impacted by corona virus. Current development shows the spread of the virus has affected many countries, including United States.
Through IISE and SoE alumni and network worldwide, IISE will continue to be a global hub for channeling encouragement messages to those experiencing hard times. Ecards can be emailed to encouragements@pitt.edu.
Let’s join IISE’s humanitarian efforts and donate your e-card today!