Comments | beverly: VOLUNTEERING AT A MIGRANT SCHOOL

beverly

VOLUNTEERING AT A MIGRANT SCHOOL

Mar 31, 2010 13:37

Chris and I volunteered at a migrant children's school over the weekend, doing simple things like teaching them some English, drawing and playing games. Nothing life-changing or anything for these children, but we all had a good time :) The thing that surprised me most was the school's location. It looked like a bomb site. With Shanghai going ( Read more... )

charity

Comments 25

specialagentldy March 31 2010, 05:52:00 UTC

Did you keep the kitten? :-D

beverly March 31 2010, 07:23:13 UTC

Noooo... actually we went back after the volunteering, but the kitten was gone :(

somnistra March 31 2010, 07:43:52 UTC

That kitten is freaking adoraaable!!!! *squee*

So nice of you and Chris to always be volunteering!

beverly March 31 2010, 11:07:32 UTC

I knoooow, was so tempted to take it home!

anonymous March 31 2010, 09:15:25 UTC

Hey Beverly! I know you through Laundromatic message board from when you used to post ages ago.. I keep coming back to your journal because I love reading your food posts/etc hehe :)

I'm actually based in Nanjing at the moment (moved here from London almost 3 years ago) and was surprised to find that you're in Shanghai!

Anyway, I'm guessing that the reason why the migrant children can't go to the government-run schools has to do with their 'hukou'. Every Chinese person has a 'hukou' (identity card) and the hukou is from the place where you are from. When a Chinese person moves from their city/area to a different area for work, they have to apply for a permit from the local government, etc. It's probably really hard for these people to apply for the permits for their children to go a government-run school because of the number of students, etc (and also migrant workers are really second-class citizens here, to be honest) so that's likely why they have their 'own' school.

:)

-Jenny

beverly March 31 2010, 11:08:45 UTC

Ooo cool, how are you finding Nanjing? Shame you aren't in SHanghai too!

Ahh yes I remember the hukou thing, its sad to see these kids not having top priority schooling though:(

angelnotes March 31 2010, 09:57:44 UTC

So sad to see the kids being in such living conditions. :(

If there's anything that we can do for them over here, pls lemme know!

p/s: Love that kitty pic too. :)

beverly March 31 2010, 11:11:22 UTC

yeah.. it was sad to see :( At least the kids looked happy and ok!

eviltofu March 31 2010, 11:06:16 UTC

So what happened to the kitten? :(

beverly March 31 2010, 11:23:50 UTC

One of the stall owners there looks after it fortunately.. and gives em some food and water.. whew

eviltofu March 31 2010, 11:28:06 UTC

Good to hear! :)