Across Beijing, students in the international school community have been doing what they do best — coming up with ways to help those in need — with spectacular results.
At Dulwich College Beijing (DCB), students used the power of art to raise an astonishing RMB 12,500 within roughly one week, which they used to purchase 500 medical masks that went to healthcare professionals on the frontlines at Suizhou Zengdu Hospital in Hubei Province on Feb 18.
The initiative, which took place between late January and early February, and was led by DCB’s two Year 12 Art Prefects, Mark W. and Olivia W., asked for donations of RMB 30 or above. In return, those who made donations received a box of illustrations and goodies made by the school’s talented art students.
Mark W. and Olivia W.
“As an art lover, it was painful to feel that something I was so passionate about is so fruitless in helping people during such a difficult time,” Olivia W. tells beijingkids. “Having thought about the real value of art I contacted my friend, Mark, who shares my passion in the hopes of helping those who are struggling, through the form of art. We were and still are unable to return to school so with all the spare time on our hands we did what we love to do the most: create art. And in turn, did the most we could to help something that seemed so foreign yet so dear to us. It was so gratifying to see something so special to us be of help to others during tormenting times.”
When asked about the incredible support their project was met with, Mark W. says that, “Olivia and I were extremely surprised that we were able to raise such a large sum of money in such a short period of time. One of the biggest surprises was how quickly we surpassed the RMB 1,000 mark. Within hours of us starting the fundraiser, we had already received way over what we thought the whole fundraiser would earn. Every time we thought we had reached the maximum amount of donations, more and more would come pouring in. I think this just goes to show how kindhearted and generous the community we live in is.”
What’s more, the importance of art, and its role in helping communities overcome trauma certainly isn’t lost on these thoughtful individuals.
As Mark W. explains, “To me, art’s the perfect way to bring together a community. No matter your age, the language you speak or the background you come from, art is something you can relate to; it’s the perfect way of bringing together the complex and diverse community that we live in. What’s so special about art is everyone is able to take something away from the art piece. Art has no one sole meaning like other mediums such as reading. Everyone can incorporate their own experiences and past into their interpretations of the artwork, making everyone’s interpretation unique and special to themselves. Art therefore is a great form of healing and therapy. It helps to bring a positive and more light-hearted mindset to people during difficult times. It’s something that tends to the individual on a personal scale, so I think art is a great way of restoring a divided and fractured community emotionally.”
As the old adage goes, the children are our future, and as students like Mark W. and Olivia W. continue to dedicate themselves to heartfelt and selfless initiatives such as this, we can all rest assured that Beijing will come out of COVID-19 stronger than ever.
Photos: Courtesy of Dulwich College Beijing
