October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, a worldwide annual campaign involving thousands of organizations, to highlight the importance of breast awareness, education, and research. Breast cancer is now the number one killer of Chinese women. A lack of awareness about breast cancer and low screening rates leave many women discovering it at late stages, yet with early detection many lives can be saved. Although we’re nearing the end of October, continued awareness of all cancers must continue if we hope to improve survival rates.

Green-T House recently hosted a wonderful event called “Diva Day”. Their beautiful space in Shunyi saw vendors selling unique items, ranging from clothing to jewelry, with Green-T serving up some of their finest cuisine. The day wasn’t all about shopping as it also saw the launch of the new Wheels for Life mobile health bus. Wheels for Life is part of the United Family Charity Fund, which provides free medical care, services and treatment to over 50 partner organizations.

With the launch of Wheels for Life, women and children living and working in orphanages and migrant schools will receive onsite medical visits to provide preventative healthcare, immunizations, and physical examinations. It’s also one of the first mobile health buses in the world to provide breast cancer screening to underserved women, using GE Healthcare Automated Breast Ultrasound Screening (ABUS).

The mobile unit will begin by "caring for the carers" those women already devoted to foster homes and migrant schools around Beijing. Over the coming months the women will receive screenings and support, providing them with access to preventative services they simply do not have. In addition, the charity fund will provide a financial contribution towards the medical expenses of those women that may be diagnosed with breast cancer.

During the soft launch period the bus will be operating four times per month. Each time they go out to offer breast cancer screenings, they hope to be able to screen 10-15 women. The goal is 500 women per year. The cost to run the bus depends on how often it goes out. One day per week or four times per month and the cost is around RMB 50,000. This covers gas, driver, consumables, doctors, nurses, program manager, IT, and utilities. The doctors and nurses time is subsidized by UFH so their costs are at a reduced rate.

The Wheels for Life program needs funding and volunteers. One volunteer is needed each time the bus goes out, to help register the patients and keep the flow of patients going. They also need volunteers other days of the week to help with preparations, planning, paper work, newsletter stories, and website updates. If you would like to show your support for the work and the mission of this invaluable program, you can donate online at www.unitedfoundation.org. If you would like to volunteer with the team, please contact 5927 7285, WFL@unitedfoundation.org.

beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent Sally Wilson moved to Beijing in 2010 from the UK with her husband and son. Her daughter was born here in 2011 and both her kids keep her happily busy. In her spare time, Sally loves to stroll through Beijing’s hutongs and parks. She is a (most of the time) keen runner and loves reading: books, magazines, news, and celeb websites – anything really. Sally is also a bit of a foodie and loves trying out new restaurants.

Photos: North Charleston (Flickr) and courtesy of Wheels for Life

In anticipation of the Beijing International School Expo on January 24-25, we will be highlighting local and international schools around Beijing from the upcoming 2015-2016 beijingkids School Choice Guide, which comes out on January 20.

Located in Beijing’s Central Business District, Beijing City International School (BCIS) lives by its motto: “Empowering and Inspiring through Challenge and Compassion.” This non-profit, independent co-educational day school offers an international curriculum under the International Baccalaureate (IB) World School system and offers all three IB programs (Primary Years, Middle Years, and Diploma Programme). Two cornerstones of BCIS education are combining the best elements of East and West, and offering a personalized education experience. BCIS has two campuses covering more than 60,000sqm; the main campus (Grades 1 to 12), and the Early Childhood Center (ECC) campus (Toddler to Kindergarten). Both purpose-built sites are supported by an innovative curriculum built around the IB, which uses an inquiry-based and skills-focused approach to learning. The experienced faculty is made up of teachers from 13 different countries. BCIS is one of the few schools in Beijing licensed to offer a rigorous and well-respected international curriculum to both foreign and Chinese national students.

Founding date: 2005
Age range (2014-2015 academic year): 2-18
Grades offered: Toddler-Grade 12
School type: IB World School
Total area: More than 60,000sqm
Number of students (2014-2015 academic year): 770
Is the school accredited by the Ministry of Education? No. Enrollment opened to local and international students as the school is registered with the Education Committee of Chaoyang District.
Accreditations: CIS, WASC
Foreign passport holders accepted? Yes
Local Chinese students accepted? Yes
Tuition fees (2014-2015 academic year):
• Application fee: RMB 2,000
• New student fee: RMB 5,000
• Toddler-Nursery: RMB 160,500
• Pre-K: RMB 172,500
• Kindergarten: RMB 183,800
• Grades 1-2: RMB 216,700
• Grades 3-5: RMB 216,700
• Grades 6-8: RMB 232,300
• Grades 9-10: RMB 237,600
• Grades 11-12: RMB 246,600
• Lunch fee: ECC Campus: RMB 4,500 per year (includes snack and lunch); BCIS main campus: RMB 20/meal (Grade 1), RMB 27/meal (Grades 2-12)
• Transportation fee: RMB 10,000 per year
Lunch offered (2014-2015 academic year): International catering company Aramark offers both Chinese and Western meals in the school cafeterias and snack bar. ECC lunch menu works on a two-week rotation, and is eaten family-style in the school common areas.
Nationality of students (2014-2015 academic year): 50 nationalities
Primary teaching language: English
Other languages taught: Chinese, Korean and Spanish, as well as school-supported self-taught language programs that meet the requirements of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Organization.
Class size (2014-2015 academic year): 14 (Toddler and Nursery); 16 (Pre-K and Kindergarten); 22 (Grades 1-12)
Teacher/student ratio (2014-2015 academic year): 1:6
School hours (2014-2015 academic year): 8.15am-3.30pm
After-school activities (2014-2015 academic year): Dance, chess, calligraphy, rock climbing, cooking, choir, taekwondo, kung fu, Chinese drumming, and more
School facilities: Main campus: over 50 classrooms, sports complex, theater, design and technology lab, green screen studio, science labs, two libraries, two cafeterias, swimming pool, soccer field and more. The ECC Campus is an eco-friendly facility with 20 spacious classrooms, dining areas, indoor and outdoor play areas, learning kitchens, gymnasium, library, rooftop gardens and more. Both campuses also contain air-filtering equipment that removes at least 80 percent of harmful PM2.5 particles.
School nurse or doctor available? Yes, there are two nurses on duty in the main campus and one at the ECC campus.
Contact: www.bcis.cn
• BCIS Main Campus:77 Baiziwan Nan Er Lu, Chaoyang District (8771 7171, admissions@bcis.cn) 朝阳区百子湾南二路77号
• ECC Campus: 11 Dongbai Jie, Chaoyang District (6770 0766, admissions@bcis.cn) 朝阳区东柏街11号

Word from a Parent:
BCIS has been the perfect school for our family. We had been living in Beijing for a while when we transferred them into BCIS, and the effect on them was immediate – both boys thrive at BCIS. We’ve got one son going to the ECC campus and one son on the main campus. They share the BCIS spirit and routines, and they know each other’s friends, yet they’re also able to have their own experiences.

– Kerry Driver (US), mother of  two BCIS students (kindergarten and Grade 2)

Photo: Courtesy of BCIS

Sew GORGEOUS is a volunteer-based community project, aimed at passing on the knowledge and techniques of sewing to local migrant students in Beijing. Set up by a group of parents in the Shunyi District, the aim of the project is to give these students a vocation in sewing and tailoring. Designed to inspire the student’s creativity, introduce them to business and production management, and provide them with important skills which they can use to create a better future for themselves.

Marianne Dransfield and Charlotte Beckett, both from the UK and with children at the British School of Beijing, initiated the project. They are currently working with a local migrant school called Love and Hope, to set up a classroom of sewing machines and equipment for the students to use. Love and Hope Center of Beijing is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, providing vocational training for underprivileged youth, in order to broaden their opportunities for future work.

To be able to buy the equipment and fabric for the project, Sew GORGEOUS is making and selling beautiful children’s clothing, kitchen, and home ware items, all sewn by parent volunteers. Marianne heads up the sewing team, and one afternoon a week, the volunteers teach the migrant students the techniques of sewing. Charlotte manages the charity liaison, running between Love and Hope, the fabric market, and many other places besides.

100% of the profit made on the sale of all items goes straight back into the project, to help purchase sewing machines, equipment, and fabric so the students can keep on learning and creating. Eventually, it is hoped the students will take on the sewing and be able to do it themselves.

I went along to the project’s first-ever Open House sale on September 24. The sale attracted a large number of people from the expat community, and items on sale included table cloths and mats, art storage bags, bunting, and a wonderful range of children’s clothing. Items can be ordered in different colors and patterns, perfect if you’re looking for unique gifts for friends and family.

There are a number of ways in which to support the project:
– subscribe to their regular email newsletter
– like and share their Facebook page
– attend sales events
– buy their products
– if you have an old sewing machine that you would be willing to donate

For more information and to subscribe to their newsletter, contact sewgorgeous@outlook.com  www.facebook.com/sewgorgeousproject

For more information on Love and Hope contact (186 0006 3292, 134 2628 8676, lovehope1004@sina.com) www.aisee.org

beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent Sally Wilson moved to Beijing in 2010 from the UK with her husband and son. Her daughter was born here in 2011 and both her kids keep her happily busy. In her spare time, Sally loves to stroll through Beijing’s hutongs and parks. She is a (most of the time) keen runner and loves reading: books, magazines, news, and celeb websites – anything really. Sally is also a bit of a foodie and loves trying out new restaurants.

Photos: courtesy of Sew GORGEOUS, Sally Wilson

All across Beijing, kids are gearing up to head back to the classroom, but a recent round of closures and demolitions has left up to 40,000 migrant children without schools to attend. A government crackdown on schools is raising concerns as other centers for migrant children face uncertain futures and renewing calls from frustrated parents to address the inequality in access to basic education.

Over the past week, several Beijing schools serving migrant populations have been denied permission to open; many have even been demolished. Though reports vary, it’s estimated that around 30 schools have been shut down and that anywhere from 5,500 to 40,000 children may have been affected. Considering that some of these schools had enrollments of over 1,000 children, the higher estimates may well be more realistic.

Officials have released statements saying that “schools were closed because they had not won approval from education authorities to meet the required standards, such as in quality of construction, sports facilities, food and other safety issues.” For these migrant schools, which are often housed in old village structures, building standards that require frequent renovations, expansive space or extra facilities are simply unrealistic.

Shutting down illegal schools for migrant workers’ children has become commonplace in Beijing. The most recent big crackdown took place in 2006 and resulted in the closing of 58 unauthorized private schools. According to the founder of Migrant Workers’ Friend, more than 120 schools have shut down since 2009.

These closures could affect one of Beijing’s highest-profile non-profit migrant organizations, Compassion for Migrant Children (CMC), which made headlines for recycling colorful shipping containers for use as community centers. The Dongba area (out by the East Fifth Ring Road), which has been affected by the recent migrant school shutdown, is also the site of CMC’s largest community center. At the moment there is no word on whether the closure of several schools near the Dongba center will affect CMC’s operations. (However, CMC is following this story closely; to see their extensive compilation of video links and Chinese- and English-language reports, click here.) The challenges created by frequent school closures were the very reason that CMC began to build portable community centers in the first place. 

This latest high-profile shutdown of Beijing’s migrant schools is again putting the spotlight on the inequalities within the school system. A Beijing hukou (official residency status) entitles the children of a household to public schooling, but migrant children – outsiders by definition – are denied that access. Parents who find schools willing to make exceptions may find themselves paying bribes ranging from RMB 5,000-20,000.

New reports indicate that some schools are relaxing the rules on documentation and fees so that migrant kids are not completely bereft of options as the school year approaches. While this reform has benefited a few thousand children, it still leaves tens of thousands out of school and the larger issue still unresolved.

Read the original article on the Beijinger here.