Go to any town in rural China and ask them what they call their cat that you see chasing mice in the barns, and they will invariably reply “cat”. Not so long ago this was the same answer you’d get in the UK’s countryside. This is the other end of the social pecking order in China today, the part of society that cannot afford an extra mouth to feed for the sole purpose of looking cute. If they keep an animal under their roof, it serves a purpose – “cat” catches mice. However, the stark contrast in wealth for these two social groups is made painfully clear when a poor rural family is faced with a much more serious cost. When a mentally or physically disabled child is born into the family, the question of care is no longer some frivolous decision. They are dealing with a loved one and a human being who’s development, and sometimes even survival, is going to cost them everything they have and perhaps more than they can give.

Chunyan is a 16 year-old girl with autism who is trying to find a way back into state education. After completing Kindergarten she was rejected by all her local primary schools on account of her learning difficulties. Her mother has passed away and, dealing with his own disability at 65, her father is unable to provide for her. She has been supported by relatives as best they can until they found a place for her at Tianyuan School. Run by a committed group of teachers, this non-profit school was brought about because so many children with learning difficulties were being rejected from local schools. Their dedicated and professional efforts have already led to two success stories of students re-entering the state school system after studies at Tianyuan.

However, the realities of rural poverty mean that the 700RMB (£65) tuition fee is beyond a lot of parents. While the school tries its best to support some students free of charge, this is not economically viable for them and two students have already had to drop out. Chunyan is one such student that has been accepted free of charge because of her family’s lack of means, but Tianyuan is finding it increasingly difficult to cover the running costs that she benefits from. As opportunities in rural Shandong are few at best, her family desperately want her to continue receiving education but are at a loss as to what to do.

In response to this, BRICKS has set up a scholarship scheme for 5 students to receive 2 years of tuition at Tianyuan. We have been working with Tianyuan’s management structure for nearly a year now and in this short time we have witnessed how life-changing their work is for the students and families they have helped. We now need your help to cover the costs of these 5 students. They need school materials, tuition fees, meals, and other such necessaries that will make any size contribution you make of great value to them.

Now, going back to where we started, it would be unfair to leave you with the belief that every member of the Chinese middle class thinks their pup looks better dressed as Tinkerbell. But (it will not be news for you) this rich-poor divide is a growing reality terms and Chunyan’s story is not uncommon. It’s not that the poor are necessarily getting poorer, but as they are left behind by an economic boom which is more acutely felt in China’s cities, their vital needs can often go unheard. It is thanks to grassroots non-profits like Tianyuan that Chunyan and her classmates have an education now and I don’t doubt you see the value in this. Please help us support these 5 students for 2011 from Tianyuan’s Webpage.

Nestled in the mountainous region of Lincheng County, Hebei, our parish has built an organisation that cares for elderly people who have been left without family or financial support. Despite the great beauty that surrounds us, it comes at the price of being detached from conventional donor bases in large cities. So that we can continue to bear the costs of the growing numbers of elderly people who depend solely on us, we need to bridge this gap and reach donors. This summer, we need someone who can work with us on delivering care and then use this experience to help us develop our web-based fundraising initiatives.

What does the role involve?

The elderly – Regular visits to provide emotional support through conversation and assisting with their domestic chores

Some skills – Explore the possibilities of internet-based fundraising and develop basic marketing skills in the process

Passing them on – Many of our staff have never learnt to use computers before, so we want someone who can teach us the basics and help us continue the fundraising you may start

The orchard – In the evenings we’ll need some extra hands to help us take care of the orchard

How can your work help us?

By creating links with donors outside our community, you will ensure the on-going care of the elderly people who you will also personally support.

How can your work benefit you?

With a bit of creativity, you will have the chance to develop our fundraising initiative having understood the very real problems that affect many elderly people in China today. You will also get a good feel for the challenges of living in the mountains!

Requirements

Mandarin Chinese

Good interpersonal skills

You will visit the people we care for most weekdays. If you can keep up a conversation in Chinese then that is already a big contribution!

Computer & Media Skills

You should be able to: use Microsoft Office programs, capture and upload different forms of media (mainly photos and video). If you have any additional abilities, please include this.

Click here if you want to apply for a placement at Anya

People with mental and physical disabilities are inevitably faced with unique challenges, but for many in China, a lack of access to mainstream schools often denies them the chance of a proper education. Our school works with dedicated staff to provide children and adults with disabilities with a warm and stimulating environment. We aim to grow our organisation so as to reach out to as many of those in need as possible.

What does the role involve?

The Students

• Leading students through daily physical activities
• Assisting teachers in all facets of their care for students, accompanying them throughout the day and catering to their needs
• Helping students with tasks such as bathing and dressing and assisting in general maintenance of the premises
• Helping adult students to find jobs suited to their needs and abilities

The School

• Visiting students’ families at the end of the semester, and helping to organise parents’ evening
• Keeping website content up-to-date and dealing with the school’s promotional work
• Organising and planning our annual group trip/parent-child event which takes place in July

The Community

• Outside of school hours, lending a hand in the fields, planting vegetables, admin

How can your work help us?

Your help around the school and grounds will give our students a summer to remember. By helping us raise awareness online we also hope that this will leave a lasting benefit to the school and those we teach.

How can your work benefit you?

• You will gain first-hand experience of working with disabled adults and children while experiencing life in rural China.
• We want you to be heavily involved in everything we do so as to give you as rounded an experience as possible
• Our passion and commitment to our work will no doubt rub off on you too!

Requirements

Mandarin Chinese

Creative problem solver

Computer skills

A patient, understanding and caring attitude

Willingness to learn

Click here if you want to apply for a placement at Tianyuan

Our organization runs a home and embroidery factory for the disabled in Daming County, Hebei. Out of the many children we have taken in, two were unable to continue their schooling beyond the first few years of primary school owing to their disabilities. They are bright and have a thirst for knowledge, but like many others in their situation they face great challenges as explained in this UNICEF report. During their summer break in July and August, we would like to invite a volunteer help us in the centre and especially look after and teach these two children.

What does the role involve?

Teaching – One child, Ye Danying, needs help with her English grammar. She is very intelligent and enthusiastic about the language, despite only having been able to study until year 3. Another student is Ye Mi’er, who left school after year one. He would like to catch up on biology and history.

Looking after them – The children will need help with some of their daily routines including mealtimes, going to the toilet and other such tasks.

Admin – Making sure the children’s dorms, corridor, and living room are clean as well as helping out in the kitchens.

Physiotherapy – We also run a physiotherapy unit for many of the children in our care. From time to time you may be asked to help out here too.

How can your work help us?

You can bring the love and care needed to ensure that these two disadvantaged children are able to keep up with their contemporaries in studies.

How can your work benefit you?

Nothing can compare in terms of personal fulfilment and happiness than serving some of the most underprivileged in society and seeing them blossom as a result. The lessons you teach will also challenge you to use your Chinese in ways you may never have experienced before.

Requirements

Mandarin Chinese

Patience and love

A desire to serve

Click here if you want to apply for a placement at Daming Care

In China, people over the age of 60 total 160 million, and 3-5 million more are added every year. Chinese people still think of themselves as being very caring of the elderly and in general they are, but the assumption that “their family will take care of them” fails to appreciate that urbanization and the one child policy have turned such expectations on their head. Our organization provides support and care to those elderly people left without family or the financial resources to meet their basic needs. We make it our mission to make their lives as comfortable and happy as possible. We are seeking a volunteer who can assist local staff in fundraising activities as well as having direct contact with the people we help; All this while experiencing a side of China very few people see. We hope this can be an enriching experience for you and one that you’ll never forget.

What does the role involve?

• Visiting elderly people in their homes along with our local volunteers
• Assisting our employees in fundraising and awareness raising activities
• Lending us your vision of how you think our organization could develop in future
• Translation of fundraising materials

How can your work help us?

Fresh ideas and a new perspective will inject life into our work and help us provide a better service for those in our care. On top of this, your ability to speak Chinese and English will help us to apply for the vital funds that support our elderly throughout the year.

How can your work benefit you?

• You get the chance to play a pivotal role in the development of a charitable organization
• This is a chance to develop your marketing and fundraising skills
• You will come into contact with a side of China few people have seen

Click here if you want to apply for a placement at Hou Dong Yu

The small farming communities we work with are located in central Gansu, overlooked by the mountains that burst out from Xinjiang’s borders. Some whole villages moved here from the infertile North a generation ago to find fertile land, but the Gobi desert is already catching up and they now struggle to eek out a living. Poor and remote, these villages are unable to attract the quantity or quality of teaching that their children need. We are looking for an adventurous volunteer who can come and make a difference to our students’ lives this summer in and outside the classroom.

What does the role involve?

First 4 Weeks – Wuwei County (武威区), central Gansu

A travelling teacher – Teaching English and Maths to primary and middle school students (5-13 yrs old) based in 4-5 different villages.

Accomodation – Local students will welcome you and put you up in every village you go to. You will be expected to spend time with them and their families after class and may be asked to help out with local farming chores

The Next 4 Weeks: Lanzhou City (兰州市)

The office – You’ll draw from your insights in the first 4 weeks to help our team publicise our work on the website. You’ll also help with the day to day to running of things where necessary.

Events – We regularly set up youth events in the city for our other volunteers and local university students. You will help us set these up and take part. (Musical skills welcomed!)

How can your work help us?

You will be the first native speaker to teach our students English and the importance of Mathematics for all students goes without saying. We hope that your experiences of living with the families that welcome you will be rewarding for both of you. Your ability to speak Chinese and English will also be of great help in our office.

How can your work benefit you?

You will experience a rustic life in one of China’s most beautiful regions. We are also confident that you will gain a better understanding of the standards of life and education by the end of this placement.

Requirements

Teaching

A good enough command of Mandarin Chinese to teach basic Mathematics (will not need to be higher than GCSE level). Some previous English teaching experience would also be of use but is not mandatory.

A compassionate person with an ability to work in teams

Someone who is not put off by hardships

Click here if you want to apply for a placement in Gansu

Yongqing AIDS Groups works closely with people living with HIV/AIDS in Hebei to rebuild their confidence and inclusion in society. We are truly passionate about serving those in need, and would like to invite a volunteer to help us cement contacts in this community, as well as drive international awareness about our organisation. Through the programme, the volunteer will experience first-hand the specific circumstances in which this often misunderstood community lives, and provide much needed assistance.

What does the role involve?

Visiting – going on home visits and taking notes on the home circumstances of the patients: covering financial situation, health and morale condition, etc.

Translating – Help the group plan and translate our prospectus, budgetary statement, and other documents.

Caring – Creating a bond with those living with HIV/AIDS while treating them with dignity and love.

How can your work help us?

The new energy and skills which you bring to the group will help us to continue to develop and grow as an organization, which will in turn bring us a great deal of hope. By caring for and supporting the patients, you will bring them a lot of happiness, while in turn build bridges between the group and their local communities

How can your work benefit you?

You will gain detailed insights into the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS in China through a professionally run organisation. But more importantly, you will also get a sense for the love and importance of life. Only through close and regular contact with the patients, is it possible to get a sense of the equality of all life, regardless of the circumstances.

Despite the fact that there are too many irresolvable issues in the world, there is no reason to be hampered by this awareness in our capacity to serve. Instead, we seek to passionately serve those we can.

Requirements

Mandarin Chinese

We are only able to accept Female volunteers at this time

Must have a computer and a talent for writing, to help the design team to keep track of new developments in the patient visits, as well as editing our program records and prospectus etc.

Should be extroverted, optimistic and lively. This kind of person will have no difficulties in forming relationships with the patients

Click here if you want to apply for a placement at Yongqing

Situated in Hengshui County, Hebei, we run a kindergarten to provide children with an all-round education. To ensure top quality education our focus is largely on developing the children’s knowledge as well as ensuring their happiness and health. In this way we can successfully prepare our generations’ children for future challenges.

What does the role involve

1) Strengthening links between Xiaoming Star Kindergarten and the international community. Providing a new outlook on the way we work will benefit us greatly.

2) Improving the children’s English language skills is of great importance. Not only because this is an important subject in China but also because it is such a valuable skill to have for their future.

3) Spend six hours a day with the children and help the teachers with specific activities. These tasks are vital in giving students the self-confidence necessary to become actively global citizens:

- assist in teaching Chinese language classes

- assist in teaching Mathematics classes

- Teaching English language classes

- Singing and dancing

- Outdoor games and activities

4) Taking note of your insights throughout your time on this placement so that you may discuss and exchange ideas concerning the development of the kindergarten with teachers and project leaders. This could include discussions on:

- the needs and aspirations of this generation’s children

- how to ensure a learning environment goes beyond the classroom (i.e. the children’s family/household)

- creating a better understanding of the children’s circumstances and living conditions

- management of kindergartens in the volunteers own home country

- how to improve lesson plans, etc.

How can your work help us?

Your work will give us an international perspective that will broaden the horizons of the children and give them confidence in the English language. By giving the students an interest in learning other skills, we hope that this will altogether create a solid foundation of lifelong learning for the children.

How can your work benefit you?

You will gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and, we hope to provide you with experiences that benefit you in future employment. We also hope that your work here inspires you to go on to help others in the future.

Requirements

- Affinity to early childhood teaching

- Good communication skills in both English and Chinese

- We can currently only offer this opportunity to female volunteers

Click here if you want to apply for a placement at Xiaoming