In the wake of the devastating earthquake that hit Nepal last month, Canadian International School of Beijing teachers and students’ first instinct was to help. CISB teachers and volunteers came up with ideas to organize multiple school-wide fundraising events with all proceeds going to aid the Nepalese. From elementary students selling lemonade and community food donations to a teachers’ triathlon and an over night fundraiser with approximately 120 middle and high school students in attendance, the school raised more than RMB 116,000.
CISB Science and Mathematics Teacher Norma Jean Adair, tells beijingkids more about the school’s fundraising efforts. “Prior to our events, organizers brainstormed ideas as to how we could raise the most money in the shortest time possible. We came up with ideas for the fundraiser, organized a schedule of events, collected volunteers and sponsors, arranged for supervisors and materials for each event, and carefully selected the chosen charities to donate the money to,” explains Adair.
While teachers and volunteers played an instrumental role in the school’s fundraising efforts, Adair says students played a huge role in organizing the events as well, especially in coordinating the middle and high school overnight camp out.
Notably, CISB students are credited with organizing live music and entertainment, a bake sale, reaching out to the CISB community and finding restaurants to donate food, and helping set up, supervise activities, and count money. One student asked Jinghua Wushu Kung Fu to come teach a lesson while another came up with the idea to invite Me toWe to the fundraiser, a social enterprise which, in its own words, "strives to empower a generation to provide people with better choices for a better world.”
Student organizers Nicole T. and Shannon F. give us their take on the middle and high school camp out.
What did you take away from the fundraising events?
Nicole: The Me to We presentation really touched my heart and motivated me to continue doing incredible things for others that are in need. The activities they hosted were really fun and it was a great way to get us excited for the evening. The fundraiser was an amazing experience. I find it unbelievable how all the students and teachers were able to do this in such a short amount of time. Through the event, I’ve learned how greatness can be achieved by a small group. We are privileged with many things: a roof over our head, warm food to eat, etc, and I think it’s important for us to remember to care for the ones that are in need of our help.
Shannon: I have gained a lot of skills from this fundraising event. It is the first big event which I witnessed the entire process. Just helping out the small things made me gain an understanding of how difficult it is to organize an event and how much effort must be put into action. More importantly, I was impressed by how cooperative all of the students in CISB can be when it comes to helping other people. This event really shows how together, we can contribute to help a crowd.
CISB thanks the following teachers for their help in making the fundraiser a success: Charlotte Chestnut, Paula Adair, Adam Hayward, Beata Patlewicz, Jerry Liu, Brent MacEachern, and Norma Jean Adair. CISB also thanks community sponsors for their generous contributions including Moka Bros, Lollipop Bakery, Paul’s Steak and Eggs, Punjabi, South German Bakery, Irish Volunteer, Sodexo, Me to We, and Jinghua Wushu Kung Fu.
“These were the people who helped to organize the fundraising event. But I must say, that every CISB teacher, staff member, administrator, and student, along with many parents and community members contributed in major ways to make the events happen,” says Adair.
CISB will donate to Doctors Without Borders and Save the Children with the money to be split between the two charities. If your family would like to contribute in helping Nepal, head to the British School of Beijing Shunyi campus this Sunday, May 31 for the BSB Shunyi Summer Fayre. Proceeds from the event will go to Couleurs de Chine and the Nepal Earthquake Appeal.
Photos: Courtesy of CISB
