As the cold weather cues our holiday preparation, let’s not forget those whose lives aren’t as easy as ours, and particularly the little ones. Local charity organizations work all year round, not only keeping less fortunate children fed and housed, but also loved, educated and nurtured. Here are five worthy causes on which to focus your extra funds, energy, and attention.
Care for Children
With its headquarters in Beijing, Care for Children (CFC) is a national organization that works to place abandoned and orphaned children with local foster families, as opposed to traditional institutional care. Their mission statement reads: “Care for Children is shaped by the conviction that the long-term benefit to children living in a family of their own is of primary concern. This is achieved through the training of social workers and orphanage staff, based on robust professional standards, in a programme that can be replicated across the country.”
Current notable projects
In collaboration with government authorities, CFC focuses on national foster care in China. CFC provides professional training and consultation services for 30 government orphanages in 26 cities, and is the main source of financial subsidy in support of local foster families in 20 of these locations. By the end of last year, CFC had trained more than 260 orphanages in China for the development of foster care programs.
Organization size
There are 10 staff members throughout China, and another six in various locations globally.
How to volunteer
Since the majority of their service is to provide professional training for orphanages, they seek volunteers with expertise in childcare,
rehabilitation, and/or other related areas.
Other ways to help
Last year, CFC launched a new program called “Friends of CFC” and now has chapters all over the world enabling news, collaborative efforts, pooled talent, and fundraising promotion in a more collective manner. This year, they also launched a “Young Ambassadors” program for youth who wish to volunteer.
Current most pressing needs
The organization is permanently fundraising with a critical goal to support their strategic five-year plan. They hope to expand their support for many more children through their foster care programs in China.
English speaking staff?
Yes
Contact info
Diplomatic Residence Compound 5-2-81, 1 Xindong Jie, Chaoyang District (8470 2735) careforchildren.com 朝阳区新东路1号，塔园外交人员公寓5-2-81
New Life Centre
Founded in 2001, the New Life Centre (NLC) is a foster home and learning center for underprivileged children growing up without a loving family. Some come from broken homes, while others are orphans or migrant children. NLC aims to bring them hope through education and skills. They educate children aged 7-21 who would otherwise not be financially able to receive an education. All of the children live onsite.
Current notable projects
New Life Centre is the midst of a move from a facility in three separate buildings to a facility that will house the learning center and dorms in one central location. This move will also reduce the organization’s overall financial burden in terms of rent and utilities. NLC is also seeking sponsors to enable their students to go on to higher education. They have a fundraising program to pay tuition and board for New Life Centre scholars during the 2013 school year. Robbie of Green T. House is hosting “Clashing of the Bands,” which features performances by school bands on December 8 to benefit NLC. For more details, contact robbie@green-t-house.com.
Organization size
Currently, NLC has 28 boys and girls (aged 8-21); the center’s facilities can hold 56. On staff, there are three teachers, one cook, a varying numbers of volunteers, and the founder: Ginny.
How to volunteer
New Life Centre could always use volunteers, such as one-on-one coaches in English (elementary level), music instructors, game or sports organizers, or those willing to help fundraise for the organization. To volunteer, contact the center through email or phone.
Other ways to help
Donations are welcome in the form of food, clothing, toiletries, stationary, house paint and brushes, and bedding. Donations of construction labor or renovation materials would also be appreciated. Moving companies or people with trucks and muscle would also be extremely helpful in December as the facility prepares to move at the end of the month. Your family can also sponsor a student for RMB 800 per year.
Most current pressing needs
As a result of arbitrary increases in rents, New Life Centre desperately needs financial support. Their new facility requires significant renovations before it can become habitable. They hope to secure 85 donors at RMB 1,000 each to cover the estimated total costs of the relocation project. Banking details can be found on their website.
English-speaking staff?
Yes, the founder Ginny speaks English.
Contact info
(139 1177 9630, newlife.centre@yahoo.com) thenewlifecentre.wix.com/thenewlifecentre
Dandelion School
The Dandelion School is the first and only middle school (Grade 7 to 9) built especially for children of low-income migrant families in Beijing. Due to poverty, an unstable life, and the current household registration system in Beijing, the national right to education for the children of migrants is often neglected, leaving many children of migrant workers illiterate. The school opened its doors in August of 2005 and is constantly growing.
Current notable projects
They are in the process of building an auditorium for the school. The school will also hold its annual fundraising event, “Music and Lyrics” on Saturday, December 8 (5-9pm) at the International Convention Center (5 Guanghua Lu). This event features the musical talents of the students, a silent auction and a buffet dinner. Tickets are RMB 1,000 and can be purchased from Jing Zhao (139 0108 3529, jchao746@yahoo.com) or Chunxin Dou (158 1068 2963, dodo.dandelionproject@gmail.com)
Organization size
With a staff of 65 and a variant number of volunteers, the Dandelion School had 615 students enrolled in its fall 2012 semester. Their School to Work program has 231 graduates.
How to volunteer
To volunteer at the school, you must first download the volunteer form from their website and forward it to their volunteer coordinator.
Other ways to help
The school requires one-on-one volunteer tutors in the following
subjects: oral English, English grammar, math and music. They also seek volunteers to play basketball or work on art projects with the students. Learning materials, books and professional services (such as management and leadership training) are always welcome.
Most pressing needs
Currently, The Dandelion School must raise funds to provide heating, complete the construction of a new auditorium, the purchase of a sound system, and the purchase of 1,000 chairs for the school’s new auditorium.
English-speaking staff?
Yes, some of the teachers and administrative staff speak English.
Contact info
Shoubaozhuang Village, Xihongmen Township, Daxing District (6128 8964, 6128 6686) www.dandelionschool.org 大兴区西红门镇寿宝庄
Half The Sky
Half The Sky is an organization founded in 1998 on the principle that orphaned children require nurturing care like any other children. Their website greets visitors with this simple synopsis: “Before Half the Sky, many children in China who lost their families were [merely]fed and sheltered, but not loved. Deprived of loving attention, they could not thrive.”
This organization also operates in partnership with the Chinese government’s Tomorrow Plan to provide individual treatment plans and nurturing around-the-clock pre- and post-operative care for medically fragile children (who are often abandoned as a result of their medical issues) at the China Care Home in Beijing.
Current notable projects
Started on June 1st of 2011, the Rainbow Program is a five-year partnership with the government that provides caregiver training curriculum for every child welfare worker in the country. Based on Half the Sky’s model for nurturing and enrichment for children, the Rainbow Program is transforming the entire child welfare system. To date, over 12,000 caregivers in 11 provinces have started their training.
Organization size
There are 1,500 employees in China, five in Hong Kong, 14 in the US, one in the UK and one in Canada.
How to volunteer
If you’d like to be part of their network of volunteers, you can offer your time and energy to their fundraising team. The organization’s development team often provides ideas and support for independent fundraising events and strategies. All funds are used to nurture children or train caregivers. Contact volunteers@halfthesky.org if you’d like to host a fundraiser or become part of their volunteer team.
Other ways to help
Half The Sky has a “China Care Club” program that are independent, student-run organizations that help raise funds and awareness about Half The Sky programs on school campuses. If you are interested in starting a club at your high school or college, visit halfthesky.org/en//en/chinacareclubsmoreinfo.
Current most pressing needs
With 51 children centers in the country, Half The Sky’s most pressing need is to raise the operational funds for each center all over the country. After 14 years of successful infrastructure, they can’t lose momentum now. They also need to station their child development experts in every province in China to continue professional training and support for caregivers within all national Half the Sky-inspired programs.
English speaking staff?
All Half The Sky employees in the Beijing office are bilingual.
Contact info
Apartment 142, Building 4-2, Jianguomenwai Diplomatic Compound, Chaoyang District (8532 3042, 8532 3043, contact@halfthesky.org) www.halfthesky.org/en 朝阳区建国门外外交公寓4号楼2门142室
morning tears
Founded in 1999, morning tears (spelled with a lowercase “m” and “t”) aims to help children who have suffered deep emotional traumas, and more specifically, the children of convicts. They have worked in close cooperation with the Chinese Government since 2001.
Current notable projects
Among their main projects is The Coming Home Centre located in Zhengzhou, Henan province. This center is where children of convicts are provided with basic needs (food, shelter, schooling), as well as medical and psychological care to overcome trauma and reintegration into society. Kids also regularly visit prisons in order to preserve their relationships with their parents. To date, 48 children are under morning tear’s protection in the center, which is run in conjunction with the local government and the Zhenzhou Children Protection Centre.
Relevant to our city, their new project – The Beijing Project – will be a lot like The Coming Home Centre, but will also welcome children into their program who are not living at the center. Not only for children of convicts, The Beijing Project center will also help those whose parents are in psychiatric institutions. Partnered with Beijing Legal Aid Foundation, morning tears is looking for additional partners in order to launch the center’s construction.
Organization size
Mostly run by volunteers, there are 60 volunteers worldwide, 13 staff members at the Coming Home Centre, and three administrative staff. Through direct care, morning tears protects 200 children.
How to volunteer
As The Beijing Project grows, morning tears is building a volunteer force in Beijing that meets monthly. They’re always looking for people who can fill the roles of project coordinators and event organizers; creative people such as designers, illustrators, writers; technical experts such as psychologists, accountants, lawyers; translators; and more. If you think you have a skill to offer, contact info@morningtears.com.
Other ways to help
Becoming a community sponsor means supporting the costs of at least one child in their care for RMB 300 per month. Community sponsors receive news about these sponsored children through their Children of the Morning Post quarterly newsletter.
Current pressing needs
morning tears is currently accepting donations for the establishment of The Beijing Project. Donations can be made in cash, online through their website with a credit card, or with a Chinese bank transfer. They are one of the few NGOs in China able to provide a tax deductible receipt. They are also currently accepting furniture donations for The Beijing Centre. For a list of desired furniture items or to make a donation, contact Project Officer Gemma at gemma.juo@morningtears.org.cn.
English speaking staff?
Yes, ask for Gemma.
Contact info
Rm 805, Bldg 1, Julong Garden, 68 Xinzhong Jie, Dongcheng District (6551 9229, info@morningtears.org) morningtears.org 东城区新中街68号聚龙花园1号楼805室
This article is excerpted from beijingkids December 2012 issue. View it in PDF form here or contact distribution@beijing-kids.com to find out where you can pick up your free copy.
