Beijing People

When Guillaume and Delphine Gauvain founded Bethel China Foundation in 2002, they little suspected that nine years later, their dream of providing visually impaired orphans with the care and skills to help themselves would include an organic farm, foster homes and schooling for over 70 children in Beijing, as well as a China-wide project that provides training for orphanages. We asked Bethel’s program coordinator, Matthew Terlunen, about inspiring hope in the kids and being inspired by them in turn.

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We wrote about how Brand Nü needs our help last month. Beijing’s first charity store is committed to raising funds for migrant women in China, but operates on a tight budget. Now, with the cost of rent rising, Brand Nü is at risk of losing its current home in Wudaoying Hutong.

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When it comes to cupcakes and sweets, CCSweets owner Carol Chow has the recipe for success. She has traveled and tasted desserts in France, Italy, Austria, Mexico, England, Spain, Australia, and lived in New York for 20 years. The deserts she makes here in Beijing use no shortening, only pure butter, and are made with primarily imported or organic ingredients. The Cs in her company name are not only her initials; they can also stand for cupcakes, cake and cookies, chocolate and caramel, ice cream, candy, or custom created sweets. Carol puts a lot of time and love into her creations, which helps make them the sweet masterpieces that they are. Agenda spoke with Chow about her business, and why there are no shortcuts in baking.

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