This sponsored blog post has been brought to you by The British School of Beijing, Shunyi.
In today’s globally-connect world, school is more than just about education – it is about community.
In the international ex-pat environment in particular, schools play a vital role in providing a place for parents and their children to form bonds and make special connections.
The British School of Beijing, Shunyi believes strongly in its role as a community hub – a centre to bring people together with activities that strengthen community ties and provide an opportunity for students and parents alike to develop their own social conscience about the place they live in.
Chatterbox Café at The British School of Beijing, Shunyi
Chatterbox Café is one such place within The British School of Beijing that brings the community together.
Chatterbox Café, located in BSB’s main foyer, is run by parent volunteers and all of the money made at the café is donated to local community and charity-based organisations in Shunyi and across China.
The café is open every school morning from 8.30am to 11.30am, offering coffee, drinks, cakes and snacks to parents, teachers and students in Year 12 and 13. The café then opens in the afternoons from 2.00pm to 4.30pm, in particular for younger students doing After School Activities.
All profits made at the café are given to various charity initiatives, including orphanages, migrant schools and medical charities. In the first half of this school year alone, Chatterbox Café donated 116,100 RMB to various organisations.
In January and February of this year the Café donated 28,606 RMB to Smile Foundation, an organisation that funds cleft lip and palate surgeries.
Chatterbox Café Coordinator Charlotte Beckett says she has been able to see first-hand how the Café can make a positive impact in the community.
“Even just the little things, like 680 RMB for photocopying English books for the Jing Cai Migrant School, makes such as massive difference to the children and parents who rely on these places for education,” Mrs Beckett said.
“Of course it also wonderful to hand over bigger handfuls of money to an organise like Change for Life, to buy things like hearing aids, which will make a life-long impact on a person’s life. It is very heartening and inspiring to see what we can do.”
Parents’ Association of The British School of Beijing, Shunyi
Chatterbox Café is also the central meeting point for The British School of Beijing Shunyi’s Parents’ Association.
BSB’s Parents’ Association (PA) is a welcoming group of parents who organise events and activities that celebrate the school community and make a positive contribution to the community at large.
Through their commitment, the parents make closer links between the school and the community in Shunyi, and indeed across China.
The PA is currently organising its annual Charity Ball, which will be held on Saturday 29th March. All proceeds from the night will go to two organisations that support the health and well-being of women and children in China, the Jing Cai Migrant School and Surmang Foundation.
Other events that the PA organises include International Day, which celebrates the diversity of nationalities at BSB and they also organise special outings for parents to help stimulate opportunities for ex-pat parents to meet, socialise and form a network.
Two such events they have organised this month have been a Day Trip to the 798 Art District and a Cooking Class at The Hutong Kitchen.
To find out more what BSB’s Chatterbox Café and the Parents Association are doing in the community and how you can help, please get in touch by email. Email pa@britishschool.org.cn
Other Community Activities at The British School of Beijing, Shunyi
The British School of Beijing, Shunyi has recently begun a programme of activities to bring the wider community together and help create more support networks in the ex-pat community.
Sweat @ BSB brings about opportunities for children and parents to do some fun extra-curricular sport that is otherwise not offered or hard to find. Currently there is a group from the Swedish and Finnish communities that come to BSB’s Shunyi campus to enjoy indoor Floorball. Other ideas for activities are welcome. Email: sweat@britishschool.org.cn
Play @ BSB is about bringing mums with toddlers together for a fun play time. Experts all say it is important for ex-pat mums have the opportunity to go out and meet other people and let their babies engage in play with children. It is healthy for the mind, body and spirit in the ex-pat environment. Currently, BSB’s baby group meets every Wednesday morning. Email: play@britishschool.org.cn
Photo by BSB Shunyi.
This sponsored blog post has been brought to you by
The British School of Beijing, Shunyi.
