As a school with a motto that includes aligning “with love and charity”, charitable activities at YCIS are an active and regular part of school life. Recently, the Regency Park and Century Park Campuses raised an amazing RMB 56,397 yuan during the annual Primary Charity Week, an entire school week that is dedicated to fun activities that give back to the community.

Each day of Charity Week featured a new and exciting activity that students could participate in with a small donation to charity. On Monday, following instructions from their Co-Teachers, the students learnt how to make origami. On Tuesday, students could enter their names to win one of several “basket raffles” displayed prominently around the school’s indoor courtyard. On Wednesday, all Primary students participated in a very special game day at the Century Park Campus, with activities created and run by Year 5 and Year 6 students for their younger classmates. On Thursday, the activity focused on food, and students were able to decorate and eat delicious cookies in their classrooms. The week ended on a high note with a Free Dress Day and a very special hat decorating activity. Prior to the week, parents donated money towards the purchase of winter hats, and the students learnt basic sewing techniques. On the Friday of Charity Week, students designed and decorated a foam patch for the hats, which were then glued and sewn on along with buttons to create fun designs. These hats are now in the process of being donated to the Chunhui Children's Foundation.

In addition to the activities themselves, the school put a great focus on ensuring students understood why they were raising money, as well as where it was being donated. To make a meaningful connection to the activities they were doing, Co-Teachers discussed the activities with the children in their classes, and engaged them in conversations about the importance of raising money for charity. To further support this link, students also wrote about their thoughts and experiences from the week. These writings are currently on display around the Regency Park Campus for the entire community to read.

Charity plays an important role in student life at YCIS Shanghai. To learn more how the international school helps develop students’ character in the classroom, click here.