Christian Havrehed, intrepid ocean-rowing adventurer and EwC Adventure Ambassador, launches tomorrow into the North Sea bound for a 300 nautical mile row to Copenhagen. EwC Directors, Theresa Booth & H-J Colston, interviewed him recently about his previous Atlantic ocean-rowing experience. Asked how one prepares for a journey like that, Christian said, “you have to be super fit: 70% mentally and 30% physically. On these arduous journeys your body starts decaying as you get fitter…there isn’t enough time for your body to recover so there is a fine balance to succeed!”
The other key component for a successful row is the personality of the other rowers in the boat. Christian added, “being in the boat is like being in a pressure cooker; if you don’t get on with each other, you have a huge problem. The row is a mental game above all else. You have to trust the other person completely – and his good intentions.”
The ‘reverse Viking row,’ due to launch off on Saturday 08 August, will include four men. Christian and the captain of this row, Chris Martin, have both rowed at least one ocean. The other two men are marines. Let’s hope that their personalities are compatible, and that trust is quick to build. This 4-6 day journey, depending on the prevailing winds, will require them to row in a gruelling 2 hour on/2 hour off schedule.
When I caught up with Christian yesterday, he said, “I can’t wait to get out into the North Sea!” It seems like, for someone like him, there is somewhere to go to get away from COVID.
[Photo taken on launch day, 2001, leaving Tenerife with rowing partner, Sun Haibin]
As they say in Chinese, 一路平安, safe journey! Let’s hope they all “合得来” and get on well! [To stay updated on this rowing journey and other EwC news, follow us on Twitter or sign up for our latest News]
This Saturday, 08 August, Christian Havrehed, Danish adventurer, inspirational speaker & EwC Adventure Ambassador, will push off in an ocean-going rowing boat destined for Copenhagen in Denmark. This 300-nautical mile journey will include rowing both in the North Sea and up the Eider Kanal across Germany just as the Vikings did centuries ago. Setting out from Lowestoft Marina in Suffolk on a ‘reverse Viking row’ should take 4-8 days, subject to prevailing winds, weather and busy traffic in the shipping lanes.
This will not be Christian’s first sea-going row – nor his last! In 2001, he rowed with Chinese athlete, Sun Haibin, across the Atlantic in 56 days, in the newly inaugurated Ward-Evans Atlantic Rowing Challenge. The purpose of the journey this Saturday is for Christian to take delivery of his new ocean rowing boat, in anticipation of a much larger row next year from Ningbo in Eastern China to Japan in May 2021.
“I believe that history can be brought alive through the medium of adventure,” says Christian. “Since 2001, I have been researching whether the Chinese & Vikings visited America before Columbus. The row commencing on 08 August, together with further historical research and other nautical adventures, will look for physical clues to back up historical claims.”
The launch date, 08/08, is most auspicious in Chinese culture and is often associated with good luck. As it happens, the captain of this row will be Chris Martin, founder of New Ocean Wave Ltd, and the first person to row across both the Atlantic & the Pacific Oceans. Two marines will also be pulling the oars with them, on a gruelling 2-hour on and two hours off cycle so the crew should be in several pairs of safe hands!
EwC directors, Theresa Booth & H-J Colston, will be at Lowestoft Marina on Saturday morning to cheer on the crew as they meet each other for the first time and familiarise themselves with the boat. The British are obsessed with the weather but, when you are about to set out into the North Sea, busy with ocean-going vessels, it is important to minimise risks, where possible. Subject to the weather and tides, the crew hopes to launch on the afternoon high tide.
Christian’s company is called Yantu, (沿途) which in Chinese means “along the way.” His slogan is, “合作可以更多”or, “together we can do more.” Engage with China is proud to have been nominated as a Campaign support partner for these journeys and will accompany him virtually “along the way” as our logo will be visible on the side of the boat.
Christian hopes to raise funds during these adventures to support cross-cultural understanding and Engage with China hopes that, by supporting Christian’s academic research and these adventures, we can do more together to build China literacy in UK schools by enabling young people to make connections across other curriculum subjects, such as history and geography and build curiosity about China.
[To stay updated on this rowing journey and other EwC news, follow us on Twitter or sign up for our latest News]
One of our Engage with China Ambassadors, Zhang Lijia, journalist and social commentator, is re-publishing “China Remembers,” a book she co-authored with former China Correspondent for both USA Today & subsequently The Times, Calum MacLeod in 1999. A book like this will not be out of date, even twenty years on. What it captures is the stories of the lives of ordinary people, who lived through unprecedented change and tumultuous times that were the hallmark of China from the 1950s to the end of the last century. Told through a kaleidoscope of eye-witness accounts, including street vendors, rubbish collectors, business people, a Red Guard and a farmer, the true story of what happened in China and how it affected the lives of ordinary people and their hopes for the future, is laid bare.
The authors of the book, quote Chairman Mao as saying that he “likened China to a blank word on which fine words could be written.” I am looking at my original, signed copy now. Mao’s China has certainly changed dramatically in the decades since his death. Sir Edward Heath, former Prime Minister and one who engaged positively with China, added his testimonial to the book, saying, “…the stories compiled here resonate with courage, determination and confidence in a brighter future.” That future has certainly become brighter for hundreds of millions of people who have been lifted out of poverty during recent decades of China’s economic rise. Chinese entrepreneurs, innovators & ground-breaking billionaires like Jack Ma of Alibaba, whilst the exception, are testament to the opportunities and change that have occurred in China and show that socialism there has “Chinese” but also capitalist characteristics.
One way of achieving change was through education and Mao had an aim to build nationwide literacy. Leafing through the book, I look at the story of Zhang Tong, a teacher, who was part of the study school movement to help educate the country from 1949. Back then, only 10% of the population was literate. Credit to the Communist Party for starting to tackle the problem, simplifying the writing system and giving more opportunities to girls. However, at the time of the original publication of Lijia’s book, only 6% of China’s young and middle aged were still illiterate by 1999. I remember travelling in rural Yunnan Province in 1991 and meeting elderly women who could not read or write. According to 2018 statistics, literacy in China stands at 96.8% of those aged 15+ and has grown at over 10% since the 1960s. That’s incredible change in my book.
I encourage you to enjoy reading these human stories including from a former administrator at the Potala Palace, a friend of Comrade Lei Feng and a collector of Mao badges. Through them you will get a rich insight into the complex threads of life and experiences whose legacy inform the tapestry of China’s modern reality. Understanding China’s past will help us to understand its present context. Engage with China is an educational charity committed to removing illiteracy about China in UK schools. We have much to gain and much to learn from knowing China better.
Engage with China is delighted to announce the appointment of its newest Ambassador, Christian Havrehed, adventurer, ocean-rower, inspirational speaker and founder of Yantu.com. A graduate in Chinese Studies from the University of Durham and always interested in the sea, Christian was deemed “crazy enough” to enter the newly inaugurated Ward-Evans Atlantic Rowing Challenge in 2001. His rowing partner was Chinese athlete, Sun Haibin, in what was considered a collaborative joint venture of mental and physical endurance. The journey from Tenerife to Barbados took the pair 56 days to accomplish. Both athletes became the first Dane and Chinese, respectively, to row an ocean, and Sun was even nominated Sportsman of the Year in China.
Former consultant at KPMG based in Hong Kong and then Shanghai, Christian has been interested in Chinese history for decades. His adventures aim to validate his research thesis that the Chinese, like the Vikings, reached America before Christopher Columbus. “I believe that history can be brought alive through the medium of adventure,” says Christian. It would seem that his own personal history also drives his interest in China and the oceans. Both his grandfather and great, great, great, great grandfather, were sea-farers who ended up working in China and Macau, the latter even learning mandarin which was illegal at the time.
Christian’s research since 2001, revolves around the 219BC voyage by sorcerer Xu Fu, who, according to Chinese history, was sent by the First Emperor, Qin Shihuang, – (of Terracotta Warriors fame) – to bring back the elixir of immortality kept by the Gods in the Eastern Seas. Xu Fu made two voyages but never returned from the second. No one knows where Xu Fu and his entourage settled, but there are temples dedicated to him, including along the east and west coasts of Japan. Christian, along with academics like the late Joseph Needham, believes that Xu Fu may have used the Kuroshio current to make it across the Pacific Ocean to America and settled there to escape certain death from the Emperor for deceiving him and failing to produce the elixir.
From his education during 6th form at Atlantic College in Cardiff, part of the United World College network, Christian believes that life must include an element of “giving back.” His adventures aim to raise money for UWC & other educational causes.
Engage with China, an educational charity dedicated to building China literacy in UK schools, is delighted to be a Campaign Partner for Christian’s Yantu 沿途 project. Yantu in Chinese means “along the way.” We will be supporting his adventures on land and water and agree with his slogan that, “合作可以更多!” In these COVID times it is more important than ever to find ways for international cooperation and understanding – even if these are conducted upon the high seas!
Sir Anthony Seldon is Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham, former Headteacher & author of over 35 books on contemporary history, politics & education. He was a pioneer in opening a dedicated Mandarin Learning Centre in 2012 to enable his pupils at Wellington, “to embrace China.” We are delighted that Sir Anthony is Patron of Engage with China.
In this video, Sir Anthony stresses the importance for “all schools … to take China seriously.” He continues, “like it or not, China is going to be the dominant country as [young people] go forward in their lives…” Sir Anthony is renowned for his contributions to the public debate on education. His insights into the importance, content and purpose of education, the ‘school journey,’ the role of pastoral care, the development of skills & the role of assessments are well-known. He is familiar with the mental health fall-out that can often accompany the student experience, exam & peer pressures & the ‘one size fit all’ methods employed in teaching today. Indeed, he was the first Head to introduce “happiness” lessons into the curriculum in 2006. His belief that, “all school leaders should ensure that you really do engage with China – both inside & outside the curriculum,” is validation indeed of the vision of Engage with China.
I was fascinated to read his book, ‘The Fourth Education Revolution.’ In it, Sir Anthony stresses the importance of educators to consider now how best to equip young people for a future that we cannot even conceive of yet due to the speed of change happening through AI. This means that educators must re-think what the right & relevant skills, knowledge, mindset and learning styles are to enable our young people to adapt, learn, re-learn & live fulfilled lives.
Educators will be familiar with the four categories of the educational framework as devised by the Center for Curriculum Redesign, namely: 1) Knowledge – what we know & understand – facts – around traditional subjects including maths & history 2) Skills – (how we use what we know, including creativity, communication & critical thinking) 3) ‘Character’ – (how we behave & engage in the world such as mindfulness, curiosity, ethics & leadership) & 4) ‘Meta-learning’ – how we reflect on what we learn, re-learn & adapt
We already know that secondary school pupils, and the primary school pupils to follow after them, will graduate into a world that is vastly different from today. We would argue that China should absolutely appear in the knowledge category above. Knowledge is power and, as the rise of China will play an increasing role on the world-stage, young people would be disadvantaged if they do not understand more about its characteristics and impact. But it shouldn’t just stop there.
COVID has forced us to fast-forward and examine the place, role, necessity and effectiveness of online learning, the platforms available to use & the way that students can access & engage with them. AI, big data, climate change, terrorism, nationalism, the ramifications of Brexit, dare we dream it, a post-COVID world… all of these will shape the life experiences, motivations, aspirations & opportunities of our young people. This is where the other categories in the educational framework are so vital to consider.
If young people do not to discover something deeper of China’s ancient civilisation or its size and scale then we deny them the ability to compare and contrast different systems of governance, the culture of the Chinese people or to understand our role in its history. Looking at these will absolutely help in shaping their meta-learning. As they learn about China and reflect on their own national values and systems, they will hone skills around curiosity and critical thinking, courageous advocacy and encourage them to interrogate news and unconscious bias.
We believe that this fresh China learning, provided by Engage with China, that can be linked across all curriculum subjects, would prompt young people to think about what they can learn from the Chinese about resilience, social networks and a global outlook, for example. This in turn will develop their character skills as they discover more about themselves, the importance of communication, interaction & diplomacy. More than ever will our young people need to be ready to collaborate and lead as they contemplate & shape their place within this fast-changing world. We believe we need to start doing this now. We owe it to our young people.
About: At Engage with China, we believe that without understanding China, its modern context, its economic growth and its cultural mindset, young people will be greatly disadvantaged in their future lives. Our curriculum enrichment programmes build China literacy in order to enable young people to achieve fulfilment and success in a world where China will occupy a greater space in geo-politics, economic development (& recovery), the environment, technology and the global job-market.
Engage with China is an educational charity enabling cultural capital in schools.
We have 15 fun summer challenges that will help your pupils develop academic, cultural capital, and wellbeing!
All schools and young people that take part are invited to share their findings, thoughts and creativity via social media using the #engage_china #SummerChinaChallenge
Ask your school teacher or your parent/carer to register for the challenges here.
Our competition is being extended until 30 July 2020 to give more young people the chance to benefit from this rich resource and to uncover some amazing facts and fun about China. There are prizes to be won!
We would love to come to your school to deliver one or more of our training programmes. We encourage a positive growth mindset through our ‘China Habits of Mind’ promoting global citizenship, curiosity, problem-solving, resilience and collaboration.
Would you like curriculum support in the following areas?
Economic development & social change
Environment & climate change
Business, brands & innovation
Mandarin language
Changes in society and young people today
“Engage with China really served to build cultural capital amongst our pupils and added value across multiple subject areas. In addition, the role-play really pushed them out of their comfort zone to understand that many life scenarios involve negotiation.”
–HEAD OF Y12, ST MICHAEL’S HIGH SCHOOL, LIVERPOOL
5-10y
11-16y
16+
Our programmes are differentiated according to age, group size and the needs of your pupils.
Our Primary School Programme helps to foster a global mindset by engaging pupils with Chinese culture through story and song. Each programme is tailored to the needs of your pupils.
Our Secondary School Programme helps pupils to build negotiation techniques, an appreciation for global citizenship, a chance to learn Mandarin through role-play and write using characters in Chinese literature. They will learn entrepreneurship, Chinese-style.
Our Train the Trainer programme enables 6th form students to teach some materials in primary schools and/or as part of a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Engage
“Engage with China really served to build cultural capital amongst our pupils and added value across multiple subject areas. In addition, the role-play really pushed them out of their comfort zone to understand that many life scenarios involve negotiation.”
– HEAD OF Y12, ST MICHAEL’S HIGH SCHOOL, LIVERPOOL
We take pupils on a metaphorical journey
Pupils will discover China’s age-long engagement with the rest of the world. As they encounter the history of the Silk Road and look ahead to the future along the new ‘Belt and Road,’ pupils will gain an understanding relating to China’s global impact and be given relevant skills empowering them to engage and perhaps trade with China in the future.
Pupils’ self-reflection and well-being is fostered through the perspective of Chinese culture and philosophy. This will help to build resilience and confidence ensuring their capability to flourish and become effective bi-lateral connectors and communicators.
Climate Change
China’s actions abroad will also have an important impact on future global greenhouse gas emissions, and China is financing and building both fossil-fuel and renewables infrastructure worldwide.
Society and Youth
Citing statistics from the Education International Cooperation Group, an overseas study consultancy operating in China, the report said four countries－Canada, the US, Australia and the United Kingdom－attracted 90 percent of all Chinese high school students who went overseas in the past seven years.
Innovation
Over and over again in its long history, China has turned into a global innovation leader. The compass, gunpowder, printing, papermaking and even pasta were first invented in Ancient China, hundreds or thousands of years before other parts of the world adopted these innovations.
Language
The official dialect of China is Mandarin, also call “Putonghua”. More than 70% of the Chinese population speaks Mandarin, but there are also several other major dialects in use in China: Yue (Cantonese), Xiang (Hunanese), Min dialect, Gan dialect, Wu dialect, and Kejia or Hakka dialect.
Interaction with the World
The rapidly changing role of China – once an isolated pariah state, now a G-20 member and an emerging superpower in Asia and beyond – is one of the factors to be considered in any conceptualization of the current state of global affairs.
Wellbeing
China performs in the upper third of Index countries in health and gender equality, ranking it well above Brazil, Russia and India. The health and gender scores are largely attributed to low adolescent fertility and female youth marriage rates.
The programmes have been designed by Chopsticks Club Ltd, the UK’s most innovative China-UK organisation, building cultural intelligence from the classroom to the boardroom since 1993 and recognised by the President of China, Xi Jinping, for its major role in building bi-lateral relations.
Engage Wih China 