An important element of the IB Diploma Programme is Creativity, Activity, Service – or CAS. In addition to academic studies, every student taking the IBDP is required to complete a CAS project. The purpose of CAS is develop skills in students such as collaboration, problem solving and decision making as well as expanding their personal interests and sense of identity.

This year Yew Chung International School of Beijing students Kersi, Teresa, Maisy, Selina and Cici, all in Year 12, devoted their CAS project to the organisation of the annual student charity dinner. The dinner was named “Animazing Night”, in aid of local Beijing animal rescue charity A Voice for Animals.

The dinner was the culmination of a year’s worth of Co-Curricular Activities with A Voice for Animals. At the beginning of the year, the charity’s founder came to YCIS Beijing to deliver a guest lecture. Her passion for animal welfare struck a chord with our Secondary students, many of whom have since been donating much of their Co-Curricular Activity time to producing animal toys, raising funds at school fairs and donating animal food to shelters around Beijing. Recently a group of students paid a visit to a local cat shelter to donate some much needed animal beds and home-made toys.

“All this engagement from students throughout Secondary school made A Voice for Animals seem like a fitting beneficiary of the annual charity dinner,” commented Ms Prachi Gupta, Year 12-13 Learning Community Leader.

Beijing Indian restaurant The Taj Pavilion generously sponsored the evening, laying on a spectacular feast for over 40 guests made up of teachers, students, families and A Voice for Animals charity workers. Our Year 12s arranged additional fundraising activities during the course of the dinner – with a raffle that included restaurant vouchers and an art auction of items donated by Year 13 GraduateIan Zhao and February’s Artist in Residence Wang Liujian. Entertainment was provided by the school’s ever-popular band CHROMA.

In total, the dinner raised 7,000 RMB for A Voice for Animals. So far the money has gone towards much-needed animal medication and surgery, and towards a dog shelter in the city. A Voice for Animals have issued a heart-felt thanks, and continue to provide us with updates of how the money is being spent.

“It’s plain to see that our students have a strong commitment to charity,” said Ms Gupta. “They are filled with kindness and generosity, and are motivated by charitable causes. I think this is in large part thanks to our unique Character Education Programme which strives to instil the charitable and social values that lie at the heart of Global Citizenship.”

Our warmest congratulations goes to the Year 12 organisers of the charity dinner, and aspecial thanks to Sophie Zhao, Year 12, for providing the photos of the evening. There is no doubt that our students’ hard work and commitment has made a difference to the lives of many local animals.