Ever wonder what is happening just outside the walls of your gated compound? Where all those workers on their bikes head to, at the end of their day? Where the taxi drivers go, when their shift is over? The communities that exist just beyond the boundary of the Shunyi villa compounds, has always fascinated me. Some of my running routes take me alongside these local communities, at the weekends we enjoy strolling around Beijing’s hutongs, and we love to visit places that are yet to be over-run with tourists. But I had never truly explored what was right on my doorstep, and I wanted to find out more about the communities that exist beyond the walls.

I recently joined a group of expats on a Shunyi Walking Tour. The tour was to take us through a village called Fei Jia Cun. Just 100 meters from the Western Academy of Beijing, live thousands of migrants from rural China. These individuals are making a living out of the large expat community that has built up since the first villa compounds were developed 20 years ago, across what is now known as the central villa district.

Ayi’s, family drivers, taxi drivers, and the cashiers at stores such as DDs Supermarket and Jenny Lou, have together built this village, and created their very own community. With restaurants, wet markets, spas, repair shops, laundry services, tailors, and bakeries. A school had been developed for the children of the migrant workers. Although it has now closed down, another larger school is already being built. There is an orchard where the locals grow fruit and vegetables, to sell in the wet market, and a rather organized recycling facility is in place.

As we walked along the muddy roads, the atmosphere was buzzing, with people busy working, looking after their young children, or simply sitting and chatting with one another. At times I felt a little self-conscious, like I was intruding on their daily life. But they couldn’t have been more polite, acknowledging all of us with a smile and a hello.

It is all too easy to see the poor conditions that exist throughout the village. The garbage that can’t be recycled or reused is dumped into the river. There is now an extensive build-up of rotting waste, which brings with it the associated stench, health, and environmental risks of pollution of the water course. The village has no sewerage system, so the communal toilets are basically holes in the ground. The living accommodation is basic brick, cement and cinderblock shacks, lacking any kind of heating systems, and door and windows that barely fit their frames. I can only imagine how tough living conditions must be during the harsh Beijing winters and sweltering summers. Some of the young women earn their living in the village’s red light district.

One of the surprises was finding a furniture and home-ware store, right in the middle of the tour. With wooden furniture, lamps, soft furnishings, and a range of crockery and vases, such a contrast to the life going on outside the beautifully carved wooden doors. Alongside the showroom, is the production factory, hopefully providing employment for some of the villagers.

This migrant community lives with uncertainty, at any time the authorities could move them on. These are the workers that have built modern Beijing, but their own communities are still subject to the whims of development. If you want to see a little bit of what life is really like for migrant communities in Beijing, then I recommend this tour, you will certainly experience another side of Shunyi.

If you are interested in doing the Shunyi Walking Tour, or other tours across Beijing, contact (138 1104 4827, offthewallbeijing@hotmail.com)

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: Sally Wilson

A year ago, we wrote about the Dandelion School in Daxing District. As the only officially recognized high school for children of migrant workers, Dandelion principal Hong Zheng and her dedicated staff have their work cut out for them. The school takes its mission of self-reliance seriously and doesn’t get by solely on donations, but every yuan helps considering Dandelion’s yearly running costs of RMB 3.5 million. Here are some ways you can help.

1. Buy Dandelion’s gift products

The Dandelion School relies on a social enterprise initiative that repackages their students’ art into usable and creative gifts like notebooks.With Christmas just around the corner, this is a gift idea that is original, sustainable, and great for your karma. Dandelion’s products can be purchased directly through the school, at the Kerry Centre, or at Dandelion’s downtown office (see below for contact information). Dandelion also sells its products at seasonal bazaars and directly to corporations.

2. Donate

Some of Dandelion’s most pressing needs are tuition and boarding fees. For RMB 680/semester, you can sponsor a student’s tuition; for RMB 500/year, you can ensure that he or she has somewhere to stay at the school. People can also donate more material goods, like warm winter clothing (hats, coats, and gloves), blankets, or money to buy coal for heating. There are three ways to donate: directly to the school, by wire transfer within China, or by cheque from abroad.

3. Volunteer

Volunteering can be done year-round at the Dandelion School. Volunteers can work on a variety of areas, including English, life skills (such as interviewing for a job), and after school activities. Many high school students from international schools (ages 14+) have done community service hours or earned merit badges at Dandelion. In the past, teens have helped Dandelion’s students with music, sports, English, tutoring, and art projects. Volunteer hours are flexible, with no minimum time requirement. The best times are afternoons, evenings, and weekends.

4. Spread the word

One of the best things you can do for any charitable organization is to tell others about it. Spread the word about the Dandelion School’s mission, needs, and volunteering opportunities. Get your child’s entire high school class to volunteer for a day, or tell members of your community how they can help.

The Dandelion School: 22 Tuanhe Lu, Shoubaozhuang, Xihongmen Township, Daxing District (6128 8964/6686) www.dandelionschool.org
蒲公英中学，大兴区西红门镇寿宝庄团河路22号

To find out more about Dandelion’s social enterprise or to see the school’s products, contact Dodo Dou at dodo.dandelion@gmail.com or 158 1068 2963.

Looking for events to fill the long holiday weekend? Out at 798, charity and art combine for a good cause.

A Bridge for Children International (ABC) is showing the exhibit Out of the Shadows – Bringing Migrant Children’s Artwork Into the Light this Saturday, September 10th from 5 to 9pm.

Hosted at Rain Gallery, the exhibit will feature 50 original pieces of artwork created by migrant children from all around Beijing, displaying the courage, happiness, hope and dreams of these disadvantaged youths. Migrant and orphan children will also be at the event for a limited time to see the works of their peers as well as participate in an art activity led by CAI (才) program volunteers.

This evening will also feature a silent auction on select artworks, food and wine from Mughal’s and Art of Wine, as well as a talk by guest speaker Frank Sun, Restaurateur and owner of Tribute in Hong Kong, Architect and Philanthropist.

The proceeds from the event will go towards A Bridge for Children’s CAI (才) Program. This program empowers migrant children with creative arts, sports and life skills activities, with 4 C’s in mind: Care, Courage, Confidence and Commitment.

A cover charge of RMB 100 will grant attendees access to the exhibition, food and wine, and three raffle tickets. The event is sponsored by Agenda.

Rain Gallery Dashanzi art district, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区酒仙桥路4号大山子798艺术区