Teaching Migrant Kids in China
Donation protected
The plight of Chinese rural migrants to major cities is a huge and troubling phenomenon in China, though seldom reported-on in the West (http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/world-report/2014/06/17/migrant-labor-in-shanghai-highlights-inequality-in-china). Because of China's residence registration (hukou or 户口) policies, many migrants are unable to collect basic services from their government, such as education, health care, and driver's licenses, and are forced to take dangerous and low-paying jobs to survive. They are barred from living in regular housing and are forced to live in substandard apartments that are built without being properly zoned. Their children do not receive standard, state-sponsored education and must attend migrant community schools, which are often overcrowded and severely underfunded.
During my four months in Shanghai, China I will be volunteering with an organization that works with the migrant community to teach English to elementary school children, in the hopes that learning English will counter some of the disadvantages of not being able to attend regular schools. I will be working a teacher and in the organization's office to help with logistics and raising awareness about the importance of helping the underprivileged in Shanghai.
Alongside my volunteer work, I will be participating in a once-in-a-lifetime study opportunity in Shanghai. I have been selected for a program focusing on international relations (IR), globalization and Sino-US relations at the prestigious Fudan University (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fudan_University). As a Political Science major, there is no better place to study IR than in the most dynamic, fastest-rising country in the world.
I have been studying Mandarin (speaking, reading and writing) at the university level for two years, and am hoping to reach fluency by the end of my trip. Along with my classes in the Political Science department, I will also be studying to perfect my Mandarin.
This four-month adventure has been a dream of mine for a long time, and I have already secured a university-supplied scholarship to help me with tuition expenses. However, I need some extra help to cover my transportation and living expenses while abroad, including for my flight ($832) housing (~$350/month for four months), school supplies ($100), transportation to and from my internship ($80), my meal plan ($200), outstanding tuition fees, and any other incidentals that may arise while I am abroad.
EVEN A $1 DONATION HELPS! Please help me to accomplish something that I have been working towards since I began college and will remember for the rest of my life. This trip will be one of self-discover and self-betterment as well as a chance for me to make a difference in the lives of others, and I want more than anything to be able to make it happen.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Allison Lipscomb
University of California, Santa Barbara
Class of 2015
During my four months in Shanghai, China I will be volunteering with an organization that works with the migrant community to teach English to elementary school children, in the hopes that learning English will counter some of the disadvantages of not being able to attend regular schools. I will be working a teacher and in the organization's office to help with logistics and raising awareness about the importance of helping the underprivileged in Shanghai.
Alongside my volunteer work, I will be participating in a once-in-a-lifetime study opportunity in Shanghai. I have been selected for a program focusing on international relations (IR), globalization and Sino-US relations at the prestigious Fudan University (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fudan_University). As a Political Science major, there is no better place to study IR than in the most dynamic, fastest-rising country in the world.
I have been studying Mandarin (speaking, reading and writing) at the university level for two years, and am hoping to reach fluency by the end of my trip. Along with my classes in the Political Science department, I will also be studying to perfect my Mandarin.
This four-month adventure has been a dream of mine for a long time, and I have already secured a university-supplied scholarship to help me with tuition expenses. However, I need some extra help to cover my transportation and living expenses while abroad, including for my flight ($832) housing (~$350/month for four months), school supplies ($100), transportation to and from my internship ($80), my meal plan ($200), outstanding tuition fees, and any other incidentals that may arise while I am abroad.
EVEN A $1 DONATION HELPS! Please help me to accomplish something that I have been working towards since I began college and will remember for the rest of my life. This trip will be one of self-discover and self-betterment as well as a chance for me to make a difference in the lives of others, and I want more than anything to be able to make it happen.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Allison Lipscomb
University of California, Santa Barbara
Class of 2015
Organizer
Allison Lipscomb
Organizer
Glendale, CA
