Throughout the war WSR provided material help for students and professors in the devastated parts of Europe and China without discrimination as to race, religion or political creed. Now, in the period of reconstruction, the role of WSR has been twofold.

On the one hand it has endeavoured to respond to the eagerness of students who are emerging from the ruins and finding their places in the university again, and who are reaching out to discover what has happened in other countries, and to learn of cultural and scientific progress from which they have been cut off. WSR has sent books and periodicals to student centres and has promoted international contacts.

On the other hand WSR has given material relief, and recent circumstances have forced it to place an increasing emphasis on this part of its programme. It cannot neglect food, clothing, or medical needs in situations where students lack the bare, necessities.

Relief in Europe

In Greece, Bulgaria, Jugoslavia and Rumania, where students are existing and making attempts to study under famine conditions, the relief has taken mainly the form of supplies, of food, fuel and clothing, canteen equipment, medical supplies and test-books.

Badly needed supplies of books, paper and chemicals have been sent to Austria, Hungary and Poland.

All over Europe accommodation for students is hopelessly inadequate. Temporary classrooms and hostels are being set up to serve until damaged universities can be rebuilt, but this work is only in its initial stages, and thousands of students are still homeless.

Care of Tubercular Students

At the beginning of 1946 the International University Sanatorium was opened at Leysen in Switzerland. This was an experiment, and has been a successful one, in spite of difficulties, caused by the overwhelming number of patients. WSR is also supporting sanatoria in Holland, Czechoslovakia and Greece. Rest centres have been set up in Switzerland, Italy, France and Greece for students recovering from tuberculosis and war shock.

Relief in China

Chinese relief has taken mainly the the form of supplies of clothing and study materials, and also such articles as lamps, oil, shoes, towels, soap and toothbrushes.

Many students possess only the clothes they wear, Winter clothing and bedding are necessities beyond their means. A recent grant provided 1,500 quilts for 6,000 student refugees in Pao-Chi, who were living in caves, and sleeping on mud floors.

One of the most important pieces of work being done in China is the establishment and operation of student centres—in homes, old temples, caves, and new buildings erected by the co-operative labour of students and professors. These centres are often the only place where reading, discussion groups, and any cultural activities can be carried' on. Sometimes they are the only places providing bathing facilities, cheap food, and drinking water. Bean milk bars have been set up in some student centres, and students can get soya bean milk—almost equal in food value to cow's milk—at low prices.