One Foundation joins with Habitat for Humanity to launch the New Hope Build in order to undertake new reconstruction efforts in earthquake-affected Sichuan.

One Foundation has begun a partnership with the internationally renowned organization Habitat for Humanity by launching the “New Hope Build” reconstruction project in Sichuan’s earthquake affected region of Zhuyuan, Qingchuan County. The One Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and the local Zhuyuan government will reconstruct homes damaged or destroyed during the Wenchuan earthquake for 334 persons in 120 families. Lenovo’s ThinkPad group, a member of the One Foundation’s philanthropy family, is also supporting this endeavor by recruiting volunteers. With ThinkPad’s financial and technical support, volunteers have the opportunity to travel to Qingchuan this September and join with One Foundation’s founder Jet Li, Habitat for Humanity celebrity supporters, and international volunteers to build houses for, and alongside 120 local families. Everyone involved will have the chance to work together in this “Hand-in-Hand to Rebuild Homes and Hope” volunteer project.

Zhuyuan township is located in Sichuan’s Qingchuan County, one of the areas heavily affected by the Wenchuan Earthquake. Almost 10% of the county’s people were killed, injured, or went missing due to this disaster. Zhuyuan itself was severely affected, with more than 90% of the township’s 5,140 families (approximately 17,000 residents) suffering from destroyed or damaged homes. While a majority of the reconstruction efforts have already been completed, around 120 households remain without permanent homes. As of now, these families are living either in temporary structures which are vulnerable to future disasters or amongst other friends and family. The New Hope Zhuyuan Reconstruction Build will create simple, quality and economic homes in a new location – Zhuyuan Jingsha, for 120 previously destitute families, thereby working with the local government to complete the final stage of the 5.12 earthquake reconstruction effort. The site’s development and public construction equipment will be provided by the local government. The construction fees will be covered by the government’s post-disaster reconstruction subsidy, One Foundation, and Habitat for Humanities’ reconstruction fund donations, along with personal funding provided by the future residents. The entire construction project is slated to conclude by the end of this year, so that families may begin the New Year in their new homes.

Since its founding, the One Foundation has promoted acts of innovative, participatory philanthropy, as well as the creation of a transparent, sustainable philanthropic platform, in order to drive the development of philanthropic affairs.  At the same time, the Foundation has used its various resources to provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by natural disasters. After the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, the One Foundation swiftly initiated rescue and reconstruction efforts in Sichuan. As of May 2010, the One Foundation had already completed 30 projects throughout the entire disaster-affected area. As of December 2009, the total amount of donations received for Wenchuan earthquake regions totaled RMB 127,135,197, of which RMB 73,547,214 has already been spent on related projects.  

Habitat for Humanity is an international NGO that encourages people to directly participate in eliminating poverty housing, and has considerable experience in the arena of global disaster relief. During the post-disaster reconstruction period following the Wenchuan earthquake, Habitat for Humanity assisted the reconstruction of houses in outer-urban regions. So far, Habitat for Humanity has already built over 1000 new housing units in five disaster affected regions in China.

As it became increasingly apparent that the One Foundation and Habitat for Humanity shared similar philanthropic principals, both organizations began discussing a philanthropic partnership in the beginning of 2009. In November 2009, One Foundation founder Jet Li represented the One Foundation as a volunteer in the Habitat for Humanity Chiang Mai Thailand Build. For one week he worked with former US President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn as well as volunteers from all around the world to build houses for impoverished families. After the conclusion of the build, One Foundation and Habitat for Humanity signed a strategic partnership agreement, pledging that both organizations would work together over the next 2 years to provide building reconstruction assistance in disaster-affected regions. 

The New Hope Build – Sichuan Zhuyuan Earthquake Reconstruction Build is the first build in this partnership. In undertaking these long-term reconstruction activities, the One Foundation also hopes to introduce and implement international best practices, improve sustainability, and promote the public’s direct participation in philanthropy through its platform. The One Foundation and Habitat for Humanity will unite ThinkPad’s domestic volunteers with international volunteers, and in early September travel to Zhuyuan to construct houses alongside local residents. Through assisting families’ affected by the earthquake, One Foundation hopes that participants will also be able to experience the joy and meaning of volunteering.

Background Information:

One Foundation:

Founder Jet Li created the One Foundation to be an international philanthropic organization with a presence throughout China (including the Hong Kong SAR), the United States, and Singapore etc.  As an advocate for, and practitioner in China’s philanthropic sector, the One Foundation is committed to promoting the culture of innovative participatory philanthropy, as well as the creation of a transparent, sustainable philanthropic platform in order to drive the development of philanthropic affairs. At the same time, the Foundation has used its various resources to provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by natural disasters.

The Foundation advocates the “One Foundation One Family” global philanthropic concept, and encourages everyone to donate 1 yuan or 1 dollar every month with the idea that we should collectively care for one other, taking to heart the motto: “1 person + 1 dollar/yuan + 1 month = 1 big family”. After the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, the One Foundation swiftly initiated rescue and reconstruction efforts in Sichuan. In coordination with the local population, the Foundation immediately launched 20 reconstruction projects which helped create new industries and recover lost livelihoods, constructed schools and hospitals, and provided psychosocial support. As of May 2010, the One Foundation had already completed 30 projects including those related to environmental protection, education, poverty alleviation, and health, and involving over 5,000,000 people in philanthropy throughout the entire disaster-affected area including in: Mianzhu, Pengzhou, Qingchuan, Ahba District, Ganzi District, Gansuwen Township. As of December 2009, donations received for Wenchuan earthquake regions totaled RMB 127,135,197, of which RMB 73,547,214 has already been spent on related projects.

Disaster reconstruction is a slow process requiring long-term support. The One Foundation is continuing its Wenchuan reconstruction projects, while also implementing disaster relief in Qinghai’s Yushu, as well as in the Southwest’s drought affected regions. While these types of natural catastrophes can not be averted, it is important to remember that in the face of such disasters, the act of love can provide a future. If you would like to learn more about the One Foundation, please click on the link below: www.onefoundation.cn

Habitat for Humanity:

Habitat for Humanity is an international non-governmental organization dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. Habitat works with people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build homes together in partnership with families in need. Using volunteer labor and financial contributions from caring people, we build with partners and communities to provide simple, decent, and affordable housing for low-income families. Since 1976, Habitat has built and renovated 350,000 homes in dozens of countries and territories, some 86,000 of them in the Asia-Pacific region. Today, an estimated 1.75 million people, many of them in our region, live in homes they have built with Habitat. For more information, visit www.habitatchina.org.