Han Zhong, December 11^th 2008 – On December 11^th 2008, a groundbreaking ceremony formally marked the commencement of construction work on the new main school building at Guang Ping Junior Middle school, Han Zhong, Shaanxi Province. The rebuilding project is being funded by Bertelsmann AG through the Plan International Germany office in Hamburg. The ceremony was attended by key representatives including Mr. Yu Le, Chief Executive of the Bertelsmann China Corporate Centre, Mr. Mark Leighton, Country Director of Plan China, Madame Ying Zhang, Deputy Chairperson of the Shaanxi Women’s Federation, Rongqing Li, Chair of the Han Zhong City Women’s Federation, and Xiaomao Xue, Leader of Ning Qiang County.         

The Bertelsmann-funded project includes the construction of the main school building at Guang Ping Junior Middle school in Ning Qiang County as well as a number of school improvement activities in Xi Xiang County and Cheng Gu County. Bertelsmann had donated €610,000, the equivalent of RMB 6 million. This sum is the result of a €500,000 donation pledged by the company, plus donations by Bertelsmann employees in numerous countries, which were then matched by the Bertelsmann AG Executive Board.  

“Through our commitment to the needs and rights of children over the many years, Plan has always worked in partnership. We are committed to our partnership with Bertelsmann, and very grateful that Bertelsmann representatives have traveled today to attend this ceremony at Guang Ping Middle School. Corporate social responsibility, action, on behalf of companies like Bertelsmann joint to the experience of NGOs like Plan, is an important contribution to building a harmonious society and more harmonious world. We look forward to continuing this partnership with Bertelsmann and together we wish every success to the teachers and students of Guang Ping Middle School.” says Mr. Mark Leighton, Country Director of Plan China. 

Yu Le of Bertelsmann stated during the ceremony: “Corporate responsibility has a long-standing tradition at Bertelsmann, and has always been an essential part of our corporate culture. I’m very glad to see that the donations from our company and from Bertelsmann employees around the world, with the support of Plan International, will lead to specific improvements for young people in the earthquake-stricken areas. As promised, the relief efforts will be sustained across several years, and Bertelsmann will be involved throughout the process.” 

The main building in Guang Ping Junior Middle School will be about 2300m² and will be built to new quality standards developed by the Provincial Educational Ministry. It is scheduled to come into use in September 2009, when 909 students aged 11 to 15 years will benefit from the new building. Parallel to this project, school improvements will be implemented at 20 primary and junior middle schools in Xi Xiang and Cheng Gu Counties, with a focus on promoting participation in school management by the communities and the children themselves, and developing the teaching staff. These activities will be completed by August 2011, and will benefit over 10,000 children at these schools.    

On May 12, 2008, a serious earthquake measuring 8 on the Richter scale struck Sichuan Province. China’s central government also identified neighboring southern Shaanxi province as a seriously affected area.

Bertelsmann, working together with Plan Germany, approved a proposal for this region jointly developed by Plan China, its longstanding partner the Shaanxi Women’s Federation, and the county education bureaus. Of the four major school buildings at Guang Ping Junior Middle School, two (a dormitory building and a general building) were seriously damaged. The provincial authorities assessed the damage as D-level, meaning that, by government order, they must be demolished and reconstructed. The other two buildings were assessed as C-level, which according to government orders, must be seriously reinforced before being used further.