Having undergone a harsh transition period after the May 12 gigantic earthquake, around 1000 teachers and students in Guangping Middle School, Ningqiang County, Shaanxi Province eventually resumed their teaching and learning activities in a spacious and sturdy new teaching building. 

To begin with, a student representative delivered a welcome speech, which said, “The successful completion of the comprehensive building funded by Bertelsmann AG and supported by Plan China was marked as a joyous event to celebrate and to remember for the whole school. On behalf of the teachers and students, I want to express our warmly welcome to every distinguished participant today and also our heartfelt gratitude to the donor Bertelsmann AG and the supporter Plan China. Please be assured that we will bear in mind your kindly help and work hard to become capable persons in the future so as to pay back to the society.”      

Afterwards, the principal of Guangping Middle school made a report on the construction of the comprehensive building. He said, “The total investment of the comprehensive building construction amounts to 3.7558 million, among which 2.8757 million is provided by Bertelsmann AG. The total construction area is 2325.10 square meters. The construction started in November, 2008 and finished in November, 2009, and in the same month, it was made available for use after inspection and acceptance. Currently, 909 students and 58 teachers in our school have already resumed their regular school activities in this new comprehensive building. Compared with the previous building before the earthquake happened, the new building was much better-equipped, firm, spacious, safe and practical, which lays a good foundation for the sustainable development of our school.” Moreover, the principal added, “all teachers and students in Guangping Middle School will make every effort in improving the school operation and education so as to build a better school environment.” 

Madame Liu Bing, Programme Support Manager of Plan China, said, “while Plan China was providing support to construct the comprehensive building after the May 12 earthquake, it also took an active part in creating a safe studying environment for children and building a platform for them to pursue their dreams and make progress, including conducting child protection training, child rights training and teachers’ training, organizing Sunshine sports activities. Such initiatives are of great help in promoting harmonious society and harmonious international community. It is hoped that the teachers and students can cherish the new school environment and work hard to achieve overall development. We believe that with the help from the whole society, Guangping Middle School will produce a great many of talents who are able to undertake important missions and transform their hometown into better places.”

Furthermore, Madame Long Yu, the CEO of Bertelsmann AG China also delivered a sincere speech, she said, “seeing the new teaching building and the teachers and students’ happy expression, I feel gratified and comforted. Through funding Guangping Middle School to construct the comprehensive building, Bertelsmann AG has again fulfilled its social responsibilities, which has been a lasting practice for us. I want to say thank you for all the efforts that have been made by everyone here and I sincerely wish that the future of Guangping Middle School will become better and better.With rumbling salutes, representatives from Bertelsmann AG and student representatives from Guangping Middle School together unveiled the plaque. Later on, all distinguished guests were shown around in the new comprehensive building and they also raised their ideas and recommendations for the future development of Guangping Middle School.