Despite the fact that our realities are becoming both increasingly globalized and lived behind screens, there is a simultaneous push to develop community-oriented projects that favor sustainable solutions at home, and it’s these two areas of focus that will be front and center at the Leadership Innovation & Future Thinking (LIFT) High School Forum.

Hosted by Yale Center Beijing and Philanthropy in Motion (PIM), LIFT will run from October to December, during which time students will develop a project that addresses the issues laid out under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The program requires one session each month at Yale Center Beijing, which is further supplemented by online mentorship sessions.

By the end of the forum, the teams will have completed a project design, presented it to a panel of judges, and received critical feedback, culminating in a program certificate and/or letter of recommendation for those ideas that are truly exceptional. Additionally, students will have the chance to enter their projects in some of the biggest international and domestic competitions such as “China Thinks Big.”

Though there is an application process, and space is limited, selected students can expect Ivy League-level instruction through workshops led by PIM Co-Founder and Yale graduate, Jasmine Lau, as well as Yale’s Tsai City Program Director, Onyeka Obiocha. What’s more, students will be working under the mentorship of members from Harvard, Columbia, Oxford, and more.

PIM Co-Founder and Yale graduate, Jasmine Lau

The deadline to apply is September 16, and requires an application, a deposit of RMB 2000, and two short-answer essays.

Eligible applicants should be in grades 9-12, be proficient in English (scores of 80 or higher on TOEFL and similar English level tests are recommended), be able to contribute to discussions and work in a team setting, and are self-motivated with a desire to challenge oneself.

If selected, the overall program fee is RMB 26,800, and includes participation in the forum for both online and offline sessions, as well as lunch during the on-site sessions. For an additional fee, Yale Center Beijing can arrange hotel accommodation near the campus. And for friends who want to apply together, there is a 5% “buddy discount.” Last, but certainly not least, one lucky candidate who demonstrates financial need will be awarded the merit-based PIM Fellowship, a full fee waiver on the entire program.

While acceptance to the program is contingent on each applicant’s abilities, enrollment is first-come, first-served. So hurry up and get those applications in.

For more information, and to apply, visit https://pimchina.org/en/lift/

Photos: PIM, Phi Foundation

Mark your calendars now, as Chi Fan for Charity (CFFC) has just announced the date of this year’s event as Saturday, Nov 10. Now in its 10th year, this annual gathering of foodies at restaurants around town raises hundreds of thousands of renminbi for charity every year.

As preparations get underway for the event, one of the first steps is to select the 2018 charity recipient. Any charity organization in China is welcome to apply, with CFFC’s goal being to make sure that all the money raised by the event is earmarked for a tangible project that will make a genuine difference. Charities can visit this link to complete the application form or people can recommend suitable charities via the CFFC WeChat account (see QR code below).

Charities should be able to demonstrate the following characteristics:

1. Sustainability: Does the organization have a viable long-term vision for success and growth?
2. Expertise: Does the organization have a proven background and expertise in its focus areas?
3. Efficiency: Are the organizers’ resources being deployed for maximum social impact?

Applications should be received by 5pm on Thursday, Aug 2. Applications will be judged by the event committee with support from Philanthropy in Motion, a Beijing-based, expat-run organization that specializes in betting charitable recipients. A shortlist of five charities will be announced on Aug 3, who will then make a presentation to the event committee.

Last year, CFFC raised more than RMB 380,000 for its chosen charity, Education in Sight, a non-profit dedicated to providing rural children in China with the eyeglasses they need to see clearly and succeed in school. Education in Sight used their donation to give more than 20,000 eye exams and provide over 3,000 pairs of glasses.

Scan the QR code below to follow the Chi Fan for Charity official WeChat account and keep up to date with details about the event.

More stories by this author here.

Instagram: @gongbaobeijing
Twitter: @gongbaobeijing
Weibo: @宫保北京

Photos courtesy of Chi Fan for Charity