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SQR is pleased to report that, in partnership with Disaster Relief Shelters Foundation (DRSF), our new community centre is under rapid construction on the site of Guangji Di Kang Le Kindergarten.
The centre uses modern, environmentally-friendly materials and construction methods: a light-weight steel frame manufactured by Supaframe with fully-insulated walls and radiant floor heating. The benefit of using the Supaframe system is that it provides a solid, earthquake-resistant frame that can be very quickly assembled using unskilled labour — the beams and riveting holes are cut and drilled at the factory before shipping, and individually numbered for on-site assembly, with an experienced supervisor overseeing the operation.
SQR will be running the centre as a social enterprise, equipping it with computers, an NGO resource library and other facilities for local grassroot organisations to use for developing their own projects and running their own sessions, with support and guidance from SQR. We will also continue to develop our own programmes.
The arrival of the steel frame coincided with a visit to our Guangji project by participants in the Mercator Fellowship on International Affairs. After a brief tour of quake-affected areas in Mianzhu, eleven aspiring NGO leaders, accompanied by programme dean, former German Ambassador Heimo Richter and his wife, were able to lend a hand with assembling one of the community centre walls, as well as enjoying some fun and games with the kindergarten students. They enjoyed being able to contribute to the project, calling it “the highlight” of their trip, and even organised an informal whip-round amongst themselves to donate to SQR. We were touched by the gesture and also greatly appreciated their willingness to roll up their sleeves and lend a hand.
The community centre will employ full-time local staff, as well as incur running costs and require funding for project development. If you would like to support the running of this rural community initiative along with SQR’s other projects, please either send us a donation or get in touch for more information.