School & Housing Sponsorship Project
The Swiss Business Community in China, under an initiative of SwissChamShanghai, cosponsored by SwissCham Beijing and in cooperation with the Swiss Embassy, the Consulates General in Shanghai and Guangzhou the Swiss Club in Shanghai and the Swiss Society in Beijing aims to help with the earthquake relief, meet local needs and provide the region with immediate support. We are glad to facilitate the wish of many members and friends who would like to show their compassion and solidarity with the countless people in need.

A special team has now evaluated the need and the possibility to set up an earthquake -proof school building in one of the worst hit areas. To make sure students can go back to school as soon as possible, we need your help to build up a permanent and safe school. Furthermore we target to support the construction of affordable housing, in addition to the school.

The project is under the patronage of the Ambassador of Switzerland to China, the Swiss General Consuls and SwissCham Shanghai and has already been supported by the major Swiss business communities.

Our host country is suffering from the most devastating earthquake in 30 years, and now China needs all the help it can get! Let Swiss Business in China and the Swiss community at large join the effort.



Don't wait donate!

Dante Martinelli Ambassador of Switzerland / Christian Guertler President SwissCham Shanghai



Steering Committee
The project is lead by a steering committee with the following representatives*:

Co Presidents:

• Stephan Titze, Syngenta (CEO China, Vice President SwissCham Shanghai)
• Felix Sutter, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, (Partnership Director, SwissCham Beijing Board member)

Members:

• Christian Guertler, SC Holding Ltd. (Partner, President SwissCham Shanghai)
• Daniel Heusser, Virtuarch (Architect; General Manager)
• Christoph Lang, Liaison, Swiss Embassy / William Frei, Consul General of Switzerland in Shanghai (on alternate basis)
• Matthew Reilly, Zurich Insurances, (Chief Administration Officer, Greater China/Southeast Asia)
• Paul Bussinger, Oerlikon, (Legal Advisor)

Project Coordinator:

• Liv Minder, Swiss Chamber of Commerce (Executive Director)

Project overview
For more information please read the project overview or the School design and description.

Ground Breaking Ceremony
20th May, Ground Breaking Ceremony



The groundbreaking ceremony took place at the new site for the Longxing Nursery School. It was attended by local government officials and other attending sponsors and partners of the Swiss Community in China, especially Mr. Blaise Godet, Ambassador of Switzerland in China, Mr. Christian Guertler, Chairman of SwissCham China, Mr. Stephan Titze and Mr. Felix Sutter, CoPresidents of the Steering Committee of the project and Mr. Daniel Heusser, Architect and Director of the project. Mr. Blaise Godet, Ambassador of Switzerland in China, officials from Chongzhou City and representatives of the donors shoveled the first soil for the Longxing Nursery School. This historic action will be recorded in the annuals of the kindergarten as the official start of the construction phase for Swiss Community Reconstruction Project.
Please read more here.

Project Monthly Update & Newsletter
November Monthly Update.

October Monthly Update.

3rd Newsletter English: August 2009.

3rd Newsletter Chinese: August 2009.

2nd Newsletter English: April 2009.

2nd Newsletter Chinese: April 2009.

1st Newsletter English: December 2008.

1st Newsletter Chinese: December 2008.

Media
January 2009 Press Release English:
Swiss Community in China to Rebuild a Sichuan Earthquake Affected School.

January 2009 Press Release Chinese:
Swiss Community in China to Rebuild a Sichuan Earthquake Affected School.

May 2009 Press Release:
Ground Breaking Ceremony in Longxing Town.

May 2009 Press Handout:
Swiss Community Nursery School Reconstruction Project Information.

May 2009 Pictures Ground Breaking Ceremony:
Pictures of the Ground Breaking Ceremony.

Communication with School
Postcards from Long Xing School.

Donations
Donations can be paid to the following account with the comment: Sichuan
Bank: UBS AG Beijing Branch
Account Name: Swiss Chinese Chamber of Commerce
Account No: 2701450101
Bank Address: 12/F Winland International Finance Center, No. 7 Finance Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100140, P.R.China General Line: 8610-58327000