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A NEW LANDMARK: The Gaolin subsidized housing community is located in downtown Xiamen (WEI YAO) |
HAPPY CHILDHOOD: Children walk out of the Xiamen Xiude Kindergarten, which is located in the Gaolin affordable housing community (WEI YAO) |
It isn't all about housing and conveniences. The government also tries to foster a sense of belonging by organizing cultural activities and providing services.
The Gaolin Neighborhood Committee was established in 2009, even before the first batch of residents moved in. The committee's main task is to pass on complaints and demands from residents to relevant government departments. They also provide services like job skill training and lessons on transportation safety. The committee also organizes cultural events to unite the community.
"Residents are from different areas of Xiamen, and it's been pretty difficult to launch activities that everyone is interested in. So, we start by celebrating traditional festivals in Xiamen. Right now, we organize at least two cultural activities each month," said Wu Limin, head of the Gaolin Neighborhood Committee.
"For instance, every night, we organize a dance in the community square. Last month, we organized sporting activities for families with children. The elderly love dancing and we organized a waist drum dancing team in May and built a stage for them to perform in August," she said. "Some senior people even cried when they found out that they wouldn't get a chance to perform," said Wu.
Chen—the woman who qualified for subsidized housing in Gaolin—witnessed an immediate change in her life after moving into her new dwelling. "I dance every night in the square. We play with fitness balls and waist drums to have fun."
The committee also visits the residents regularly to check up on their needs.
"We want them to feel like Gaolin is a home instead of only a place to live," said Wu.
The Gaolin Neighborhood Committee has also recruited many volunteer residents to help run neighborhood affairs. Chen was chosen to mediate conflicts among family members and neighbors.
"Some neighbors quarrel for different reasons, such as a loud TV next door, and the volunteer team sets out to mediate," said Chen.
"Once, a woman had a fight with her mother-in-law who was so angry that she left the family and refused to take care of the grandchild," said Chen. "I spoke to them and helped reconcile the conflict."
As the number of people who live in low-income communities is sharply rising, the local government recognizes more needs to be done.
"In my opinion, the biggest flaw we have is a lack of commercial space within this community for people to shop," said Wu, head of the Gaolin Neighborhood Committee. "That's why we have planned for a 6,000-square-meter building where a supermarket will be housed and other business and services can be found. The building is now under construction."
For Chen, not having a primary school is another concern.
"My daughter will get married very soon. Once she has a baby, we'll need a good primary school in the neighborhood."
The government has taken note of her wish and construction of a public primary school in the Gaolin Community is set to begin in January 2013.
Chen also said she would like to own an affordable housing unit one day rather than renting one. Now that her daughter is working, she believes buying a unit is within her family's reach.
But becoming property owners overnight won't be easy.
"If we want to buy affordable housing in Gaolin, we have to return our subsidized home to the government and apply all over again. That could take years. I don't want to take the risk," said Chen.
"So, we are now waiting for a new policy to enable us to buy the unit we live in," said Chen. "That can make the heaven we live in mine to own."
Email us at: zhouxiaoyan@bjreview.com | 
