Whenever life doesn’t seem to go as planned, or we encounter a bump in the road, it’s easy to fixate on those problems and let them consume all of our mental energy. However, when this happens, we run the risk of losing sight of all those things that are going well, which, more often than not, are the things we take for granted in the first place. Generally speaking, it’s pretty safe to say that no matter how bad things get, most of us have those basic necessities that provide for a comfortable and secure life; health, love, shelter, financial stability, and food. Unfortunately, though, there are a lot of people in this world — either clear across it or right in our own backyard — who don’t have basic amenities. Thankfully, students at Beijing’s international schools know not only how to count their blessings, but how to share them as well.

A few took time out of their busy schedules to tell us about the organizations they volunteer with, and what it means to them.

British School of Beijing, Shunyi: The Myanmar Project

Founded 2015

Students:

Anna B., 17 Years Old, Year 13, Volunteering for 1 Year

Daniel R., 17 Years Old, Year 13, Volunteering for 1 Year

Julia K., 17 Years Old, Year 13, Volunteering for 2 Years

Luca C., 17 Years Old, Year 13, Volunteering for 1 Year

What is The Myanmar Project’s mission?

“To raise money for a local school in Myanmar and teach the children in the school English.” – Anna B.

“The goal of our project was to travel to Myanmar and teach children English, since they didn’t really have access to any textbooks or other resources. We also donated as much money as we could gather so they could build a new classroom and buy other essential items for education.” – Daniel R.

“To raise money for the children in Myanmar” – Julia K.

“To help educate and raise supplies for children in underfunded schools.” – Luca C.

Why did you get involved?

“I am interested in being a teacher so it seemed like a great experience to get to teach the children.” – Anna B.

“I got involved because firstly I love charity work, and I saw an opportunity to give and help those who are less fortunate than myself.” – Daniel R.

“Actually, my friend Julia K. was part of the founding team of this project and so she invited me to join and took me on board.” – Luca C.

What have you learned from your experience volunteering?

“I really enjoyed volunteering at the school and experiencing the culture of Myanmar. I would like to volunteer more in the future because I enjoyed the experience so much.” – Anna B.

“I learned that teaching takes time and must be done consistently. I’m sure after our trip the children will continue to work very hard to improve their English.” – Daniel R.

“I think it was good to see how other people less fortunate than us are living since it was eye-opening and made us appreciate what we had even more. In addition to that, we were able to see a change happening and I learned that it’s not that hard to make a difference.” – Julia K.

“What to us may seem like not a lot, can actually be life-changing to others.” – Luca C.

Why do you think it’s important to volunteer or give back to the community?

“It’s important because it gives people the opportunities that they would not receive and it allows us to give back and raise money for people who need it more.” – Anna B.

“It’s important to volunteer because not everyone is given the same opportunities, and those who have better circumstances should take time from their everyday lives and help those who are not quite as fortunate.” – Daniel R.

“I have lived a fairly privileged life to be very honest, taking part in Model United Nations (MUN) and other student debating activities, and I believe that the only right thing to do is provide action rather than just talk about, or come up with theoretical solutions to problems.” – Luca C.

Is volunteer work something you will continue to do in the future?

“Yes, I am very interested in it and after university, this will be something that I will be looking at more.” – Anna B.

“Certainly, I believe charity is important in our society for those who are privileged to help those who are less privileged. I think that’s one way we can make our society a better place to live.” – Daniel R.

“I will be doing volunteer work in the future since I think it was eye-opening, and really seeing what was happening, and how people were living, and making a change definitely gave me the motivation to continue doing this again.” – Julia K.

“Yes, next year I am actually taking a gap year where I will work as a social worker back home in Germany with kids in kindergarten or after school.” – Luca C.

Photos: Courtesy of BSB Shunyi

Over the festive season we’ll be highlighting some of the organizations and people that give their time and skills to make our city a better place, and looking at what you can do to support them. Spread the spirit of giving these holidays!

New Zealander Rebecca Archer has been in Beijing since 2013, but it was an idea she brought from home which has taken off and is now set to expand across the world. We asked her to tell us more about the Clothing Auction Network.

Rebecca Archer with her family

Tell us about the history of your organization. How did it start, how has it developed?

We started about five years ago. We were just having a conversation, a bunch of girls, about downsizing our wardrobes, and just thought let’s have a look at each other’s clothes, see if there’s anything we want. And we auctioned it, based on a model I saw in New Zealand with a bunch of teenagers who did the clothing auction for my cousin’s 16th birthday. They all brought a dessert over, and donated the money to charity.

On that very first night, the girls had such a good time. It’s a really entertaining event, and we raised so much money, a couple of hundred dollars, just for getting together and having fun. And everyone was like, when can we do it again?

The next one, people invited their friends, and it just grew from there. One of the great things about it, the community aspect, is that it gives women a chance to get together, apart from their kids. As you get older we don’t go out to bars and pubs much, and it can be hard to meet people. Plus we love fashion, and the more we got into it the more we learned about ethical fashion. I tried buying no new clothes for a year, to break down some of the barriers around secondhand clothes.

I ran it for two years in Shunyi, with 15 to 20 people at each event. Then I moved and began the city chapter, and it just exploded. The city events happen three to five times a month, and Shunyi once a month. It’s grown from the first year when we raised around RMB 7-10 thousand, to this year when we’ve raised over RMB 150,000, which is just amazing.

What are you doing now, and what are your plans for the future?

We want the idea to spread around the planet. As people have changed their jobs and moved out of Beijing, women have taken it with them, and now there are events in Shanghai, Guangzhou… Pauline [former beijingkids journalist Pauline van Hasselt]is trying to get one started in the UK! Part of the reason it’s worked so well here is because of WeChat, we don’t know how it’s going to go with Facebook. But we want to set up a global Facebook community, have resources available to people, and to help them expand their networks find other people that are interested in coming to the events.

How can people get involved? What help do you need, and how can they contact you?

So the way that we want to spread the message in the future is to get a website going with all the resources. We’ve already developed a lot of the content, but to build our social presence, we need regular posts, and none of us have the capacity to do that. People can get involved with us through writing blog posts, especially if they’re interested in sustainable fashion. They can take photos for us, or make short videos. We need people who can do graphic design, Facebook moderation…

People can also get involved by attending or hosting events, we can support them. The events work best if you start with your own network of friends and expand outwards.

Anyone who wants to get involved can contact me through WeChat: becstarnz

What make your organization different or special?

We have three values: community, conscious fashion, and charity. It really meets the need for community that a lot of women feel. We don’t need new clothes, there’s already enough clothes in the world to go round. And whoever hosts nominates a charity that the money goes to. It’s a concept that’s so easy to spread.

Photos: Dave’s Studio, Rebecca Archer

Today marks the beginning of a three day fundraising campaign for  WeChat’s "Day of Giving" culminating on Wednesday September 9, 2015. Beijing-based Roundabout is trying to raise RMB 1 million through public donations with the yuan-for-yuan match as pledged by WeChat bringing their total target to RMB 2 million. This will fund Roundabout’s numerous projects, facilitating medical procedures and treatment for sick children. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to donate.

Note: You need WeChat wallet to donate. Here’s how to set it up.

Step by Step
 

1. Search for Roundabout’s official account: roundabout666, add the account then look at the bottom of the screen to see this:

2. Click to find the fundraising projects.

3. Click on the last project on the list

4. Click on the button the left to go to the donation page. 

5. Donate one of the pre-selected amounts (RMB 20, 50, 100, 500) or write the desired amount in the space below. Then click on the orange button to go to the confirmation page. 

6. Click on the green button to confirm your payment.

7. If you wish to see share your donation certificate to inspire others to donate, then click on the pop up window’s orange text.

8. The donation certificate doesn’t show how much you donated just that you donated.

Photo: Courtesy of Roundabout

When I’m not changing a slew of endless diapers on a string of sleepless nights I occasionally get the pleasure of planning and leading delegations of community and business leaders on learning trips to places like Cambodia, Vietnam, and India with the Foundation for Global Leadership (FGL). Simply put, FGL introduces people of capacity to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and encourages them to get involved with their time, talent, and/or treasure.

One critical task is vetting the NGOs that FGL works with to ensure they are well-run, productive, and relevant to the interests of donors. Despite good intentions, many NGOs lack sufficient oversight, transparency, or even business acumen when it comes to managing funds. This is especially true in China.

My professional experience with FGL has impacted the way I give my time or donations to local NGOs. I now try to learn about how an organization is run, who does the work, and who the benefactors are.

A simple example would be donating to an orphanage. Who is running the orphanage? How are they funded? Is there government oversight or third party audits of the financial records? If I make a cash donation, where does the money go; to the director’s salary or to food, clothes, and educational toys/supplies for the children? These are the kinds of things I would want to know.

Two NGOs in Beijing that meet my personal standards for excellence are the Starfish Project and Roundabout. You can learn more about each by clicking the links. If your interests are more globally-minded, you would be hard pressed to find a better run outfit than Friends International. This NGO helps street kids get out of poverty by providing them with job training and education so they can find work and become productive members of society.

 Photo courtesy of katerha (Flickr)

The death toll from the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Sichuan on Saturday has climbed to 186, and the area is preparing for further damage from potential landslides and structural issues caused by aftershocks. At least 11 organizations are collecting donations for victims through Weibo, including the One Foundation (壹基金), CBUCF (联益基金会), Manzi Foundation (薛蛮子), and the China Social Assistance Foundation (中华社会救助基金会).

To donate, go to this page and click on the charity of your choosing. This will take you directly to their donation page where you can fill in the amount you want to donate and type in your name in and phone number. Your donations will automatically be deducted from your phone account.

Chinese netizens are once again irritated with China’s Red Cross and looking for other outlets for donations. The organization did itself no favors by posting a photo of its volunteers sitting in a tent and eating ramen – the caption: "There was just an aftershock, and now we finally have time to sit down and eat some instant noodles." Netizens have been responding with posts like, "F*ck off, Red Cross," "Shame on you," and "Use our money where it’s needed instead of paying for your meals or purses."

Check back here for updates on other organizations that are accepting donations, and please comment below if you have any more information about donations that have been set up for relief efforts.

Photo: Hefei News

This post originally appeared on theBeijinger.

This weekend’s a jam-packed one for Beijing families! In addition to Thanksgiving celebrations, it marks the annual Parent Link Charity Bazaar at the Western Academy of Beijing (November 24) and Rotary Club of Beijing Holiday Bazaar at the Kempinski Hotel (November 24-25). beijingkids will be attending both fairs with a crafts corner for drawing on "magic paper" and coloring Christmas cards. The suggested RMB 5 donation will benefit local charities.

Today only from 10.30am to 3.30pm, WAB’s Parent Link Charity Bazaar will feature over 100 vendors, raffle prizes, a host of student performers, holiday treats and drinks, and childcare. Yes, childcare! For RMB 100, Grade 12 students will play with your kids for as long as you want while you shop.

This year, the event will support charities and NGOS such as the Children’s Hope Foundation, Yearn to Learn, Roots & Shoots, the Starfish Project, Children of Madaifu, Couleurs de Chine, Smile Angel Foundation, and more.

Both today and tomorrow from 11am to 5pm, the Rotary Club of Beijing Holiday Bazaar will offer Christmas carolling (courtesy of Beijing BISS International School), raffle draws, a kids’ corner, free hair styling and makeup, over 90 vendor booths, live performances, a Christmas tree lighting, and more.

In addition, Roundabout Chinais holding one of its book fairs from 10am to 3pm at Beijing Rego British School today. As always, find children’s books for as low as RMB 1, paperbacks from RMB 10, and hard covers from RMB 20. All proceeds will be used to buy coal for Chinese orphanages in need.

Can’t make it this weekend? Don’t despair, beijingkids will also be at the following bazaars:

• 
  Beijing City International School on Saturday, December 1
• British School of Beijing (Sanlitun) on Sunday, December 9
• Harrow Winter Fair on Monday, December 10

See you there!

Photo by babasteve via Flickr

From expanding your learning to helping out charities, here are some things going on in Shunyi this week.

The Learning Center (TLC) will hold a Tutoring Blitz during the October break, with intensive private tutoring sessions for your kids. If you’re around Beijing to enjoy the fall weather, take some time out to help them sharpen skills across the school curriculum. A new time slot for middle school students will also open up after the break; go to www.thelearningcenter.cn to learn more or e-mail learningcenterbeijing@gmail.com.

Roundabout’s first Book Fair of the season held at the British School of Beijing in Shunyi was a rousing success! The goal to raise RMB 165,000 in order to help three children was amazingly surpassed – as of this post there is a whopping RMB 176,511 in book sales!  BSB is kindly allowing the books to remain for sale in their school until October 10. With the additional RMB 11,000 raised thus far, Roundabout is able to help a fourth child who needs RMB 30,000 for therapy following brain damage. Thank you to the entire community for helping Roundabout help others in need!

The annual Terry Fox Run at the International School of Beijing takes place on Friday, September 28. From Early Years students through high school, ISB students take part in a run raising awareness for cancer research. Donations can be made at the event or in classrooms; public donations can be directed to the high school office or in any ISB P.E. office.

Come to the “World’s Biggest Coffee Morning” on Friday, September 28 at Clicia’s Designs and Shayne’s Treasures from 10am-2pm. Created by the Macmillan Cancer Support organization, the annual coffee morning helps families dealing with cancer by financially supporting nursing and psychological care. Come pay for your coffee with a generous donation, and at the same time, enjoy the stores’ biggest gem sale of the season! Read more about it by clicking here.

On a beautiful blue-sky Saturday afternoon, Roundabout held its much-anticipated grand reopening celebration. And there was much to celebrate! A new and larger location, fabulous retail and donation space, numerous featured charities to partner with, and fun, fun, fun! The entire community was able to see first-hand what a gem we have in our neighborhood.

Founder Leslie Simpson was at the event, of course, greeting everyone who came and giving personal tours to those who wanted to know more about Roundabout. Founded in 2008, the charity distribution store has grown in size as well as in their enormous ability to contribute to those in need. Having moved locations several times over the past few years, the previous building landlord saw the good that Simpson and her crew were doing – he decided to build the current facility specifically for them so their charity work could continue.

Two large front rooms in the building serve as the main retail area. Just as when browsing a regular store, items are displayed attractively in sections, and all items have been tested or checked to make sure they are complete and ready to sell. Expats will discover great finds here, from electronics with the proper currency to household goods they forgot to bring from back home. Local Chinese residents also frequent the Roundabout retail area.

A third room will be special “community room,” open to expats and groups only. Many charities that Simpson has worked with in the past will be invited to showcase their goods and sell them here (100% goes back to charity), providing them extra exposure amongst the community. This same room will be open for groups – scouts, school organizations, church groups, etc. – anyone who wants to get together for project help. Training and events will be held here and groups are able to collectively provide a service by helping Roundabout help others.

Back rooms are for maintenance – everything from a book overflow room (keeps books sorted and stored for monthly book fairs at local schools), an “electronics to be checked” room (where all electric goodies must be assured that they work before being put out for sale), to a clothes sorting area (clothing is separated by gender, age, and season before being sent out). A large white board posts messages daily to remind the volunteers what they are working for, and there is a kitchenette break room for those who have a hard time tearing themselves away from helping out.

Sad news for us is that Simpson and her family are leaving Beijing at the end of 2012 with a job relocation to Kuala Lumpur. While she will be sorely missed, she can take pride in the fact that she has successfully set up an operation able to move forward and serve those in need. Her band of volunteers will next be led by Becky Wang, who has been working with Roundabout during the past year and has enormous enthusiasm and passion for the role. Originally from China, Wang has spent many years of her life in the U.S. where her family still owns a home and where their older children live. The ultimate goal is that in the future Roundabout will be run by Chinese people for Chinese people, so it is fitting that Wang is taking over at this time. 

In the meantime, Simpson will continue to work on the development side of Roundabout while in Malaysia, and she has plans to open branches in Nanjing, Shanghai and downtown Beijing next year.
 

Before beginning the Middle School chapter of their lives, 5th graders at ISB embark on their final social studies unit of the year: Impact. With the enduring understanding that “individuals make decisions and act in ways that impact others and the world,” these students seek to take action and make a positive impact.

Students work in small groups of those with like-interests and choose a topic within their grasp, something they feel strongly about. The aim is to encourage students to take meaningful action that can be done within the home, school, housing compound, or larger scale – something beyond simply making a donation to a cause or visiting a needy location just one time.

After working on their action plans – which could include fundraisers or awareness campaigns, among other strategies — students will present their completed Impact Projects to the school on Thursday, May 31.

Examples of Impact Project topics this year:

*Animal Shelters: Students raise money via bake sales and donations to buy food for animals, clean up their cages, groom the animals and make them more presentable for adoption.
*Anti-Bullying: Students raise awareness about the types and frequency of bullying, and explain how others can spot it and stop it.
*Change for Life Orphanage: Students raise money to help purchase hearing aids for these hearing impaired orphans.
*Ride a Bike: Students encourage exercise and less pollution by promoting bicycle riding to school and other places.
*Recycling: Students give statistics about waste and encourage others with simple ways to recycle and be more cognizant of excessive waste.
*Less Ink: Students explain how much ink and paper is being unnecessarily used, encouraging black and white printing, double sided paper usage, etc.
*Migrant Schools: Students accept donations to provide school supplies to migrant schools and children in need.

Pictured above is a recent fundraiser set out to help Man Man, an orphan living at China Little Flower while undergoing cancer treatment. The goal of the bake sale (as well as other things for sale and a donation jar) is to raise RMB 2,000 to provide Man Man with a month’s worth of medication he needs. Set out by the doors of a busy housing compound on a weekend, the girls’ efforts were well on their way to helping this little boy. Much more, they are able to realize first-hand, as well as share with their peers, how much difference such efforts can make to someone in need.

This and many more examples are teaching our young children how they can make a positive impact on our world – a tremendous life lesson!