Pacific Coffee Funds New School Building in Gansu, China

In October 2014, teachers and students at Xingfeng Township Central Primary School in Qin'an County, Tianshui City, Gansu Province, finally moved into a long-awaited new two-story school building—replacing cramped, unsafe classrooms, including one officially labeled as D-class hazardous. The new facility directly addressed urgent local needs for better learning conditions and brought the school closer to becoming a full-time boarding institution, as mandated by education authorities.

Pacific Coffee, through its charity partner Operation Smile Action, fully funded the construction of this new 963.36-square-meter building, which includes nine classrooms and seven specialized rooms, improving educational infrastructure for over 300 children from the area.

What the New School Building Provides

The newly completed "Pacific Coffee Operation Smile Hope Comprehensive Building" consists of two floors, covers a total floor area of 963.36 square meters, and includes nine standard classrooms plus seven function rooms: a laboratory, reading room, library, instrument room, music equipment room, and print room, along with one office. This complete setup replaces the previous inadequate and unsafe school structures and supports a more effective teaching and learning environment.

Why the Old School Was Unsafe and Inadequate

Xingfeng Township Central Primary School serves over 400 school-age children from Xingfeng Village and four neighboring villages. However, with only 329 students currently enrolled, the existing school buildings were still insufficient—especially since one classroom had been designated as D-class hazardous due to structural risks. The limited space also made it impossible to meet the local education bureau’s goal of establishing a full-time boarding school, which would have offered more comprehensive care and education for students.

How Pacific Coffee Became Involved

Since entering mainland China in 2011, Pacific Coffee has supported education initiatives in impoverished regions. Starting in 2012, it partnered with Operation Smile Action to place donation boxes in its Hong Kong and mainland stores, and launched fundraising projects such as Ooobject T-shirt charity sales and charity notebook sales in collaboration with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. These efforts culminated in 2013 with funding for the expansion of Xingfeng Township Central Primary School, leading to the new building’s construction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which charity partnered with Pacific Coffee to build the school in Gansu?

Pacific Coffee worked with the charity organization Operation Smile Action to fundraise and build the new school building in Gansu. Donations were collected via in-store boxes and special fundraising campaigns, including T-shirt and notebook sales.

How big is the new school building funded by Pacific Coffee?

The new "Pacific Coffee Operation Smile Hope Comprehensive Building" is two stories tall and has a total construction area of 963.36 square meters. It replaces older, unsafe structures at the school.

What facilities are inside the new school building?

The building includes nine classrooms and seven function rooms: a laboratory, reading room, library, instrument room, music equipment room, print room, and one office—providing essential resources for both teaching and student activities.

Why was the old school building replaced?

The old school had limited space and one classroom was classified as D-class hazardous due to structural dangers. The facilities couldn’t support the local plan for a full-time boarding school, prompting the need for expansion.

How did Pacific Coffee raise money for the school project?

Pacific Coffee raised funds through donation boxes in its stores and special charity campaigns, such as selling Ooobject T-shirts and notebooks in partnership with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, all in collaboration with Operation Smile Action.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for School Fundraisers

For coffee programs supporting education initiatives like Pacific Coffee’s school building project, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe for its bright citrus and floral notes, or the Kenya Little Tomato for bold berry acidity and winey sweetness—both excellent for engaging specialty coffee drinkers. The FrontStreet Classic Blend offers balanced body and chocolate tones, ideal for broader appeal. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.