Back in May, the Migrant Children Foundation (MCF) asked the community to come together to help raise money to help 9-year-old Advik Rana, who has suffered from leukemia since the age of 2.

Together, the Beijing community was able to help raise RMB 20,000 that went toward his medical treatment. Helen Boyle, Founder of MCF, expressed her gratitude to the community and provided us with an update on his situation when he returned to India in early June to undergo a course of radiotherapy.

Unfortunately, after multiple organ failures and several days on life support in the ICU, young Advik has passed away.

On behalf of the family, MCF would like to express their deepest gratitude for your generous and invaluable contributions in this fundraising campaign. May Advik rest in peace.

Images: Migrant Children Foundation

A few weeks ago we asked the local community to come together to help a child in need. Today, we’re happy to share the difference we’ve made in his life as a community.

Dear Friends,

Just an update regarding young Advik who was receiving treatment for leukemia.

On Wed, May 31, I visited Advik and his mother at their apartment. He had just given another blood test and this will be followed up on Friday with a final blood test. The diagnosis is that the blood count is considered satisfactory by the doctor. He is returning to India on Saturday and will be undergoing a course of radiotherapy.

His parents will be keeping us posted as to his progress and I will forward all and any information to those who have supported him.

I would like to thank everyone who has shown their interest, kindness, and generosity in this boy’s case. Total monies raised through the MCF appeal amounted to RMB20,000.

Helen Boyle
Founder of Migrant Children Foundation

Images: Helen Boyle

Ever just get the need to get out of the house, ditch the chores, ditch that proposal you’ve been working on, forget about the kids’ homework and head out dancing? Then you realize it’s three in the afternoon and all of Beijing’s dancing spots won’t be worth going to until right about midnight? Then you remember you haven’t been up past ten in as many years? Well, not this weekend! This weekend, you get to have your dance and your sleep too! Join the Beijing groovers at the Rivera East Lake tennis court for some fun and a whole lot of dancing. And all for a good cause!

The Staying Alive Fundraising Dance Charity Event is brought to us by our favorite Beijing charity shop, the Roundabout. In case you haven’t heard about the Roundabout, all you need to know is it’s an awesome social enterprise headed by volunteers, providing free services and connecting those who wish to help either monetarily or otherwise to those in need. Its also been around since 2008 and over the years it has supported over 48 charitable organizations even as far afield as Inner Mongolia. They also have amazing stores where you can get anything you could possibly imagine, from household items to clothes and everything in between, all for a wonderfully low price.

Take advantage of Beijing’s first few days of deliciously warm summer, and dance the afternoon away. Bring the kids along and enjoy the beautiful tranquillity of Riviera East’s lakeside court at the dance location. Don’t worry if you are undecided as yet. You can always grab your ticket at the Bejing Riviera East reception desk or you can stroll over to the Roundabout, and once you’re done grabbing a few goodies, snag your tickets there. They are only RMB 50. See you all there!

Over December, we’ve been highlighting some of the organizations and people that give their time and skills to make our city a better place. Here’s a round-up of all the causes we’ve profiled, so if your New Year’s resolution is to give something back, you’ll find plenty of ideas for getting involved below.

To read the full interviews, follow the links below.

Horses Offering People Enrichment (HOPE)

Children love animals, whether it’s a family pet or the cuddly pandas at the zoo. For some children with disabilities, that love can help them to grow and develop in areas where they have difficulties. It’s called equine therapy, and it’s available in Beijing thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers. We talked to Amy Tripson about Horses Offering People Enrichment: HOPE. 

The Library Project

There are few things better to stimulate a child’s curiosity, creativity, and love of learning than a good book. For most of us, our kids grow up in homes full of bright, engaging reading material. But for many children in rural China, even their schools don’t have a library, or a place to sit and read independently. And that’s where The Library Project comes in. We talked to founder Tom Stader about their mission to turn unused classrooms into beautiful new reading rooms. 

The Lost Puppies of Beijing

In this series, we have mostly focused on those helping the people of this city, and particularly children in need. But our furry friends need our help too, and particularly the doggoes. So we talked to our friend and former beijingkids staffer Auna Harris about the kind souls behind The Lost Puppies of Beijing.

Fitness 4 Hope

In our busy urban lives, staying fit and active is important. Thanks to a team of enthusiastic volunteers, there are now opportunities to do this while helping a good cause too. We talked to Pablo Arriba about Fitness 4 Hope (F4H), the volunteering organization which he founded.

Bethel China

China has transformed beyond imagining over a couple of generations, modernizing and developing at a rate previously unseen in history. But in a few areas, old-fashioned ideas persist, and rarely with such sad consequences as in attitudes to disabled children. However, there are many, locals and foreigners, working hard to change attitudes and transform lives. We spoke to Allie Haaz, English-language spokesperson for Bethel China, to find out more about one such organization.

Migrant Children Foundation (MCF)

Christmas is always a time to think about children: our own and those in need. Few children are more in need than China’s so-called “migrant children,” who have come with their parents in search of a better life in the city, but have no right to education or other support here. And few have done more to help these innocents than the Migrant Children Foundation (MCF). We talked to Helen Boyle about the Foundation’s work.

Chemistry lessons provided by MCF won a national competition

Clothing Auction Network

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.

Photos: courtesy of HOPE, Nichole He, courtesy of Auna Harris, courtesy of Fitness 4 Hope, courtesy of Allie Haaz, courtesy of MCF, Dave’s Studio, Rebecca Archer

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!

Christmas is always a time to think about children: our own and those in need. Few children are more in need than China’s so-called “migrant children,” who have come with their parents in search of a better life in the city, but have no right to education or other support here. And few have done more to help these innocents than the Migrant Children Foundation (MCF). We talked to Helen Boyle about the Foundation’s work.

Helen Boyle, with one of the children helped by MCF

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

MCF is a non-profit, non-political, and non-religious organization, with the sole aim of enriching and developing the lives and education of disadvantaged children in and around Beijing. We achieve our aim by providing a variety of resources from native English-speaking and Chinese University helpers, and organizations such as the Royal Society of Chemistry, Institute of Physics, and the Beijing United Hospital and Foundation. For years, the generosity of these and a host of other organizations have all responded with commitment and resources on numerous occasions. The Foundation is staffed by a dedicated team of long-term helpers who organize and manage MCF events and programs, and maintain relationships with migrant schools and parents.

MCF provides extracurricular and cultural activities in subjects that these children do not have access to. Other than being given cultural lessons from native English speakers, the subjects covered range from science, photography, drama, music, and horticulture, to name but a few. It is worth noting that these activities are of the highest standard, so much so that the children being shown chemistry experiments in one of the migrant schools won a national competition. It goes without saying that without these resources, both professional and practical, none of this would have been possible, and all of this has been provided by a dedicated body of people who are committed to “making a difference.”

Chemistry lessons provided by MCF won a national competition

Having been in education for over 20 years in the UK, I was in Beijing initially for a one-year sabbatical comparing Chinese and UK teaching methods, and I came across a migrant school in the north of Beijing. Seeing the condition of the classrooms in this school in terms of resources, lack of qualified teachers, and the school’s environment for the children, I felt that I would like to use my knowledge and experience to make a difference. The things that fascinated me with regard to the school’s children were the enthusiasm and the energy the children displayed.

English lessons for migrant children

One thing led to another, ending up with me resigning from my lecturing post back in London and staying on in Beijing to help this migrant school. This first school led to other schools wanting help. From then onwards, people came forward offering their experience to help these different schools.

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

MCF is now running extracurricular sessions for over 500 children covering various subjects each week. Other programs that have developed since the beginning include health checkups, eye tests and the provision of spectacles where necessary, and undertaking the medical needs of four children that required operations, rehabilitation, and specialist treatments.

MCF provides medical care as well as education

Of course, there are numerous stories that can be told about how these disadvantaged children have had their experiences broadened by MCF programs and the generosity of our sponsors. As an example, in October 2019 some of the children visited the Beijing Planetarium, courtesy of The Hilton Hotel Beijing. This is not the first time the MCF has provided a platform for excursions that enrich and develop these children’s knowledge and experience.

MCF believes it can provide help to other regions in China as part of a future program.

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

In order to get involved, individuals can contact MCF via email (friends@mcfchina.org). MCF is always interested in hearing from people who can contribute to the services that MCF provides.

What makes your organization different or special?

MCF is an organization that was established 11 years ago with the intention of following through with its vision statement of “making a difference”. Simple words, but their meaning is far-reaching. Those that support MCF either as helpers or sponsors have been nothing short of inspirational as they, like myself, believe we can all “make a difference” if we want to.

Photos: courtesy of MCF