Every Child is Entitled to a Dream (II)

- Zhen Xu & Fangxing Yu, 2008 Beijing Volunteers

Wei chi was chosen as the team leader of Beijing site because of his excellent resume and performance in the interviews. When he was asked why he chose to join DC he said: “I just want to help.” Now he is a freshman in the University of Toronto, majoring in electronic engineering. 

Du Lei, studying in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, moved to USA 6 years ago. It is her first time back to China. “I appreciate what my motherland left in my memory. It is my duty to do something for her. And I also want to meet some people with the same interests.” 

Tan Lirong went to USA after finishing her high school in Shanghai. Now she is studying in Bates College. “I want to be a volunteer in my first summer holiday. DC fits my schedule.” “I graduate this year, but I don’t want to start work. My friends advised me to do some volunteer work.” 

Dennis Dupee is American. He earned politics and economy dual-bachelor degree within 3 years in Duke University. “I went to China last year. It’s really cool. I believe I will have an interesting summer.” He speaks 5 languages, having no problem communicating with children in Chinese.

When we first met Wei Chi he was washing clothes in the narrow yard of 
a kindergarten. The supply of running water was unstable. 
“It looks dirtier.” A helpless look appeared on his face. 
Two girls Tan Li Rong and Du Lei were going to have a bath in a 
dormitory room of a friend in Peking University. They haven’t got used 
to going to public bath room. 
Wei Chi told us it was the first time these two girls having a real 
bath a week since the team arrived here. Their tolerance of poor living conditions in Zhufang Village 
impressed us a lot. 
At night, they lived in one classroom of the kindergarten. At 7 
o’clock in the morning they had to roll up blankets and mats on the 
floor because children would come to have classes in this room. 
During their project, the local authority took steps to rectify the 
business without certificate before the Olympic Games. Many small 
restaurants in the village were closed. Everyday, Wei Chi got a 
headache to decide what to eat. In the village, 1 Yuan can buy 4 
steamed brand. They also eat pancakes and instant noodles. It was more 
difficult for Denise--he is a vegetarian. Once they got a chance to go 
downtown, Wei Chi bought three books named I Love Meat at once.

Overseas NGOs have no right to sponsor projects directly in China. To 
cooperate with domestic people or organizations is the only way to 
carry out education assistance plans. 
Under the provisions of Social Organization Registration Regulations, 
setting up a legitimate nationwide NGO needs the supervision of a 
state minister. More than 90% of NGOs in China can not be registered, 
not to mention the embarrassing situation of NGOs registered in 
foreign countries. 4 years ago, when DC was worrying about finding partners in Beijing, 
Wang Yi came into their eye. 
“I have always been a loser as an educator.” Wang Yi evaluated 
himself. 
In year 2000, Wang Yi had a dream of improving education condition of 
children of migrant workers. He came alone to Zhufang Village, set up 
a school to enroll migrant children, named it New Century Elementary 
School, and held the position of headmaster.

The library in New Century Elementary School was the prototype of the 
New Century Library. “On May 2005, some teachers in my school reflected that children’s 
reading ability was relatively poor compared to those born in Beijing 
and kids in surrounding area were facing the same problem. These words 
made me decide to move the library outside my school. So it can 
benefit more migrant children.” Wang Yi recalled. 
With the help of DC’s volunteers, the library was moved out in June. 
The next year, New Century Elementary School did not survive the 
forced dismantling because its conditions could not meet the 
requirements of Beijing Ministry of Education, nor did Wang Yi get any 
compensation. 
Having been moved out the school, New Century Library survived. 

Without sources of income, it became extremely difficult for Wang Yi 
to continue running the library. 
Wang Yi sunk into a great depression in the winter of 2006. “I was 
lingering in the library. Suddenly I realized now that the school was 
gone, the library is the only hope to carry on my dream.” 
The basic cost every month of running a non-profit library is 1100 
Yuan for rent, 100 Yuan for maintenance and 700 Yuan salary for the 
librarian. 
DC to some extent threw a life saving straw to Wang Yi. Since 2006, DC 
began to pay for the 1100 Yuan rent while occasionally Wang Yi still 
couldn’t pay the 700 Yuan to the librarian. 
Wang Yi is hoping that some day the library can have a legal status. 
However, neither the 2000 Yuan project budget of DC every year nor the 
30,000 Yuan from Chen Yet-sen Family foundation (DC helped Wang Yi to 
apply for the aid from the foundation in Hong Kong) is able to solve 
the problem. 
According to our research, under the basic requirements, a non-profit 
library should occupy 100 square meters, own more than 10,000 books, 
have at least 100,000 Yuan for registration, update at least 1,000 new 
books every year and hire a trained librarian. Besides, Wang Yi should 
show his real estate and property right ownership. 
“It’s impossible.” Wang Yi said. 
Though the library is running the risk of being shut down at any time 
by the authorities he doesn’t want to close the library. The other 
option for him is to register the library as an education counsel 
center. It will be easier.

On June 7, volunteers arranged a story telling competition in the 
library. It was the eighth story telling competition since 2004. 
It was Saturday. Wei chi and his team arrived at the library at 8 
o’clock for preparation. 4 little kids had already been waiting at the 
door. 
“Brothers and sisters, you are coming!” the girl in red skirt 
acclaimed. 
The competition started at 10:00. There were 26 competitors from grade 
1 to grade 5 as well as 10 spectators. 
A boy skimmed through a book again and again off stage, but he still 
couldn’t recite the whole story in his performance. Some other naughty 
boys sitting in front of the spectators were yelling “Speak louder! 
Speak louder!” 
Every child who participated in the game would be given a little 
present. Those who are lucky to get higher scores would have 
unexpected bonus.

The average reading ability is low among these kids. Most of them 
could not tell the difference between ‘telling a story’ and ‘reciting 
a story’. The understanding of story is limited too. Most grade 3 and 
grade 4 children like to read comic books instead of novels or science 
books. Grade 1 and grade 2 kids often ask volunteers to read them 
stories though they are capable of reading Ping Yin. 
“One of our goals is to enhance their reading ability. We arrange many 
activities to stimulate their interests in reading.” Tan Lirong said. 
“There came the information age, people tend to ignore the important 
role of books in our life. We can read books at anytime and anywhere. 
Good books make us think, and criticize in depth.” Chen Huai Yuan told 
us.

It becomes a habit of many children from Jin Hai He Elementary School 
to go to the library every day after school. They do homework, read 
books and play with volunteers. 
Wang Yi has his own worries. 
“Volunteers are really active and responsible. They have good ideas 
and have a good time with kids. But when they leave, the other 11 
months during the year, the library doesn’t have many extra hands to 
help arrange interesting activities.” French girl Eva and Singapore girl Kristy, studying in the Chinese 
Language Center of Tsinghua University, came every two weeks to give 
children English lectures. Now they have already finished their 
courses and gone back to their countries. Sang-Hyuk Lee, a guy from 
Korea, takes over their work now. After all, language learning is 
short-term. 
This year, DC recruited a long-term volunteer Wang Jie in Beijing. He 
is now working for Deloitte. Due to his busy job, he can not guarantee 
to appear every week.

Chinese government has put more emphasis on people’s well-being in 
recent years. However, policies have not been proved successful in the 
grassroot level. 
Qin Gui Ying, chief of education from Zhufang Village Resident 
Administration, even has no idea about the existence of New Century 
Library. 
She told us the administration has a library of its own and there are 
more than 30,000 books. 
When we followed Qin to the library, two middle-aged men were playing 
table tennis on a brand new table. Not even one book did we see. 
“The library will not open until the summer holiday. Now we have 
locked the books in a room.” Qin explained. But she rejected our 
request to take a look of these books and claimed we didn’t have the 
right. 
We asked some kids reading in the New Century Library whether they 
knew there is another library in the neighborhood. They all replied 
with “No”. 
“I never see people borrow books from the library run by the Village 
Resident Administration.” Wang Yi confirmed. Wang Yi is planning to build a website of the library. He wants to 
meet more people who share the same interests with him and to attract 
more sponsors. 
DC put registration in China on their schedule. “To register in China 
is an undeniable trend. But we have many choices. We might cooperate 
with American organizations or registered domestic organization. To 
register it in Hong Kong is another option. It is all possible.” Chen 
Huaiyuan told us.

The library, Wang Yi, a person who may not even be mentioned as an 
educator, and DC, an NGO which can not register in China, altogether 
is facing a endless battle to have legal status. 
It is kind of ridiculous! 
“Their parents are making great contributions to the construction of 
Beijing. Their children should have enjoyed the right to receiving 
education as those born in Beijing do.” Chen Huai Yuan said at last. 
We believe that is why they never think about giving up.