Reconstruct a School in China Post-Earthquake

Reconstruction:

The construction team is working around the clock in 2 shifts daily.

The classroom building that was damaged in the earthquake has been entirely cleaned up.

On May 7th the plinth (base or platform upon which the building structure rests) will be finished, and the basic piling caps will be constructed on May 9th.

Since the results of the site investigation showed that the soil is unstable and weak due to the earthquake, a pile foundation will be used. This is a special type of foundation that enables a structure to be supported by a layer of soil found at any depth below the ground surface. The pile and pile cap configuration has provided the basic design solution to the difficult problem of obtaining deep foundation support below areas where poor soil conditions prevail. At the same time, the dormitory stone and sand are being prepared, and the dead-load (consisting of the weight of the materials composing the structure) exercise will be finished on May 9th. In addition, the foundation construction is being prepared.

The temporary facilities for the construction area have been built.

The construction plant has been vacated, and, the rare earth around the foundation ditch has also been cleaned.

The reinforcing steel bar, cement and steelwork have been installed in the plant successively.

The construction is on schedule to be completed by August 20th 2009, in preparation for the new school year beginning September 1st, 2009.

Fundraising: We now have approximately $170,000 in received donations toward the project, including donations from the Malaysian Government, Taoist Tai Chi Society of Canada, China Children and Teacher's Fund (CCTF), and from individual donors.

By the end of May, the construction costs that will be incurred on the site will be more than $500,000, and the total capital needed remains approximately $4mm.

The structural damage that the earthquake had on the earth under the site has increased the difficulty of the project, and many architects and technical department specialists are working hard on the ground to resolve this issue. As a result, the whole construction moved 6 meters away from the original site. This, in turn, has increased the cost of the overall project. We are going to have a fund raising party in Shanghai on May 12th, the anniversary of the earthquake. And, one of the most famous singers in Shanghai is willing to help us by accepting sponsors for a concert they will give, with full sponsor money to be donated to the Chujiang High School. We are also working on multiple fundraising initiatives within China for 2009:

1. An artist Mr. Liu Deli has donated 120 pieces of his art work for our school reconstruction.

2. The World Croquet Federation in UK will help to raise funds to build the playground and will install English Croquet for the school kids for free.

3. We have over 100 volunteers in Europe and US who are willing to donate their time and skill to teach for the school students long into the future.

4. We have been working with English Education Ltd., who has formed an exchange program with Chujiang school students, and will publish our flyer in their magazine in April 2009.

5. Our school flyer is going to be also published by British Chamber of Commerce, who will also put our school project on their website.

6. TOTO has graciously donated all sanitary facilities for the school. We are still working on more companies and charity funds to contribute to the teaching building which cost over $1MM and the school canteen which cost a little over $1MM.

And, finally, we are organizing a students working trip to the site to help to raise funds.