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Tag: Education

  • Rowing team pulls together from China in search of immortality despite political headwinds

    In just under 2 days, on Saturday 25 May, two friends from Denmark and China, will set out in a rowing boat from Shensi Island off China’s east coast province of Zhejiang on Stage 1 of an epic expedition. The first 800km of this the New Xu Fu Voyage East will take the rowing pair out into the open waters of the East China Sea to Japan. The whole journey is 1,300kms with their final destination at Nobeoko on Kyushu Island. This Yantu Project, brainchild of Christian Havrehed, 54 and from Denmark, involves nautical adventures that promote Sino-Western understanding & the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. This leg of the joureny is to retrace the route of Xu Fu, the ancient alchemist of China’s first Emperor, Qin Shihaung, and his quest to discover the elixir of immortality in 210BC.

    Christian Havrehed and Sun Haibin on a practice row on the New Xu Fu Voyage East off Shensi Island, Zhejiang Province, China

    Relations between China and the west have been at a low point for some years now but this expedition – involving Denmark’s first ocean rower, Christian Havrehed, and Sun Haibin 孙海滨，China’s first ocean rower – is underpinned by the Yantu voyage motto, “合作可以更多 : Together we can achieve more!” and their catch-phrase, “慢慢来 Don’t rush.” The expedition is the culmination of years of preparation and academic study and involves cross-cultural immersion at an extreme level.

    Christian believes that the Chinese may well have discovered America long before the 15th Century Voyage of Discovery by Christopher Columbus and this Stage 1 row is the first of four phases to assess  if that might have been possible via the Pacific Rim. During the voyage the pair will gain knowledge about ocean currents, coastlines and maritime travel that could support this thesis. The pair will also be investigating sustainable development goals 13 Climate Action and 14 Life Below Water.

    Sun Haibin and Christian Havrehed aim to re-trace the journey of alchemist, Xu Fu, in 210 BC

    So novel, inspiring and committed to scientific as well as historical exploration is this epic adventure, that the Explorers’ Club has given the expedition a Flag, only the 139th to be granted in the Club’s history since its founding in 1904.

    Testament to the inspiration that this expedition has generated in China, Christian and Sun Haibin were invited to take part in the Opening Ceremony of the Zhejiang Province 4th Ocean Games a few days ago. On Saturday morning the Danish Ambassador to China will wave them off in an official departure ceremony. The pair estimate that they will reach Nagasaki in 11 days. After that they will travel a further 500 kms around the coastline to their final destination on Sunday 30 June. As part of their charitable outcomes, the expedition will help to fund Xu Fu Environmental Scholarships to promote environmental awareness and sea rescue skills. 

    Zhejiang 4th ocean games ceremony Christian and Sun Haibin

    These last few days of preparation have involved shopping for food rations, ensuring that their water-maker works, making final adjustments to the boat, launching it in the water and sorting all their cargo into categories including “repair”, “tools”, electronics”, “medicine”, “abandon ship”, and stored accordingly. This is no weekend picnic; such a journey requires serious planning, total conviction and both mental and physical endurance. 

    Engage with China has believed in this New Xu Fu Voyage East for some years now when it first captured our imagination. We met up with Christian in Lowestoft in the UK during Covid in August 2020 to discuss the expedition. Our charity, which builds China literacy in UK schools, sees this sort of cross-cultural and educational engagement as pivotal to developing closer understanding and peace with China. We are proud to have the EwC logo emblazoned at the front of the boat alongside Yantu’s own and to have Christian as our very own Adventure Ambassador. We hope that this expedition will inspire young people, including athletes and particularly rowers, to believe that nothing is impossible.

    Sun Haibin and Christian are no strangers to ocean rowing. In 2001 they crossed the Atlantic in a rowing competition in 56 days – a journey of 5,000 kilometres. *You can buy Christian’s book about this ocean row, “From Tenerife to Barbados in a rowboat,” online.

    To find out more and to follow the expedition, click here. https://yantu.com/current-expedition/the-new-xu-fu-voyage-east/ where you can also find out ways to sponsor the expedition including inviting Christian to give an inspirational talk on his return.

    We will be following the journey with keen interest and hope that the winds will blow in the right direction and bring them safely to Japan!

  • Pioneers, ambassadors and global citizens of the future

    Become an Engage with China Scholar and benefit from two years fully-funded education at A-level through our partnership with Wycombe Abbey Schools in China. Discover some of the many opportunities awaiting a young person here

    Applications open for the 2024-26 cohort of Engage with China Scholars for young British pupils to study their A-levels in China. Based on the success of our first cohort which travelled to China in September last year, Engage with China is proud to announce that its partnership with Wycombe Abbey Schools in China is expanding to enable another 30 lucky students to enjoy a full cultural immersion in China from 2024-2026. Deadline for application has been extended until 25 March.

    Pioneers they have been // Ambassadors they are // Global citizens they will be

    Including return flights, a choice of 30+ A-level subjects, wrap-around extra curricular activities from sports to music to debating and cultural trips, this EwC Scholarship programme is a life-changing opportunity. The three school sites are in the famous cities of Nanjing and Hangzhou as well as in the new energy zone of Changzhou. All of the cities are within easy reach of Shanghai on China’s amazing high speed rail network.

    I wake up every morning with a smile on my face! Thank you for giving me my dream!

    Michael S, 2023 EwC Scholar

    Find out more about what a life-changing experience this scholarship programme from a recent video featuring our scholars in China. There is plenty of information in the brochure below to help you as you consider applying. Complete an application form to give yourself the chance to change your life! Interviews will take place in mid April. Departure to China at the end of August.

    NOTE: Please send a copy of the application submission by email to us via info@engagewithchina.org

    2024-02-02-engage-with-china-scholarships-for-2024_brochureDownload
    2024-03-19-ewc-sholarship-application-form-2024Download

    Good luck and we look forward to receiving your applications.

    Follow and like us on social media platforms to keep up to date about this and other opportunities. Invite us into a school you know today!

    If two years seems too long – why not consider joining one of our two summer camps in July 2024? This action-packed itinerary will delight curious young minds and build cultural and language skills, enhance STEM learning and build global perspectives. Find out more here. Use code HJ2024 to benefit from £50 off per pupil.

  • Students’ climate change conference seeks consensus

    More than 200 pupils from twenty-three schools and from four continents took part in a climate change themed Model United Nations Conference on Friday 02 February 2024. Using their best negotiation skills, pupils debated and negotiated to find consensus on the resolutions from COP28 as well as on single-use plastics, fast fashion and food waste. 

    This student-led ‘Good Cop Bad Cop’ event was the third organised by Engage with China, a UK registered educational charity which works in UK schools to build China understanding amongst young people. Pupils from countries including the UK, Sri Lanka, Brazil, China, Zambia, Nigeria, Hong Kong and Dominica participated in the conference giving them all an opportunity to come face to face with students their own age from very different backgrounds and life experiences. Each school delegation spoke from the perspective of another country enabling them to develop research skills, team-work and empathy. One of EwC directors, Theresa Booth, said,

    By representing another country at the conference students experienced a flavour of what real global negotiations are like and appreciated that respect and good listening skills are essential if consensus is to be achieved.

    Conference President and A-level pupil at The Grange School in Cheshire, Remi Livesey, aged 18 highlighted that,

    The beauty of this type of MUN debate is the chance to speak from another perspective. This ability is a great 21st century soft skill. Everybody absolutely did an amazing job and it was a really good debate with some great points and some high-level thinking. I was privileged to be this year’s President.

    This annual Model United Nations Conference is unique in three key ways, namely the decision to remove the competitive element usually integral to MUN conferences; giving pupils an opportunity to share the lived reality and impact of climate change in their own country or local area during the opening plenary session and inviting participation from schools in both the independent and state sectors.

    Three schools from Worcester in the West Midlands in the UK took part including The King’s School Worcester (KSW) and Christopher Whitehead Language College (CWLC) and Bishop Perowne College. They represented China, Vietnam and Brazil respectively.

    Riya Mayilvahanan, 18 years old and from KSW chaired a debate on financing vulnerable communities. She said,

    The quality of the debate was excellent. Thank you to Engage with China for enabling us to compete on this unique, international level.

    Another student from CWLC who gave a vote of thanks said, “it was really helpful to debate together and acknowledge that climate change is really happening. We learnt today that we do need to change.” CWLC is a state school with very little MUN experience. Despite this, its delegation was applauded by the chairs of three of the breakout debates for their excellent debating skills and overall contribution to the event.

    Dr Lorraine Earps, Headteacher at The Grange School said,

    “as a school we value this conference for its ability to bring another dimension to learning for our students.  It is important that all our young people are able to develop the skills of diplomacy, understanding how to work towards consensus and finding ways to overcome the challenges that we face globally now and in the future.   This is our third year hosting the event and we are committed to growing it as a platform to enable young people from across the world to come together building relationships and finding shared solutions to global issues. There is a real magic in seeing our future leaders joining in the discussions from across so many time zones sometimes even given up their own holidays for the chance to be involved.

    Chair of Governors at The Grange, Cheshire, Trevor Brocklebank, was also very excited about the school’s involvement in the annual Good Cop Bad Cop conference and how it might expand in the future. He said,

    Today we live in a global society where time zones and travelling distances no longer significantly impact worldwide activities such as trade and communications. As we all strive to retain our individual identities, cultures and beliefs,  as part of this vast community we must be mindful that we don’t put up invisible barriers. We need to stay open-minded and receptive to all points of view, especially when debating the big issues. This MUN Conference is an outstanding example of how we can actively encourage students to adopt this inclusive and empathetic approach to take with them into the working lives. Good Cop Bad Cop provides a platform where they can develop the leadership, negotiating and diplomacy skills that ensures future generations work together. As a school we are delighted to host this event and will explore opportunities to grow participation and increase the reach, potentially looking to involve businesses and other key stakeholders.

    Senior figures were also invited as guest speakers to encourage the students to develop skills and to take climate action seriously. These included Dame Caroline Wilson, UK Ambassador to China, herself a fluent mandarin speaker, and Madame Zhang Jin, Minister Counsellor from the education section at the Chinese Embassy in London. Also speaking included Julian Hobbs from Vestas, producers of wind turbines and George Harding-Rolls from Eco-Age, an agency seeking to create a post-plastic system and reduce individual plastic footprint.

    Engage with China recently founded a Scholarship Programme thanks to the support and funding of Wycombe Abbey School in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, in China. The programme started in September 2023 enabling ten British students to study their A-levels for two years there. Many of those Scholars also participated in the conference and were able to welcome their Chinese counterparts and wish them a Happy New Year of the Dragon in perfect mandarin. Applications for the 2024 cohort of Scholars will open later this month with interviews in mid April.

  • Optimism in the air

    It may be windy, wet and gloomy at the start of 2024 but we are filled with optimism & hope for the year ahead as we continue to build engagement, opportunity & China literacy in the classroom. So why the optimism?

    Despite school budgetary constraints, covid catch-up & capacity issues in schools, multiple schools and 6th Form Colleges have already booked us in to deliver our curriculum enrichment China Challenge Days. These days will take pupils on cultural journeys enabling them to understand the impact of of China on the world today as well as encounter thousands of years of history from the technological advancements of the Shang dynasty; the rise of the Qin dynasty & the ‘Terracotta Emperor’ and the obsession with porcelain & tea in British society.

    Our third and largest, global ‘Good Cop Bad Cop’ Model UN conference takes place on 02/02 involving 350+ young people to discuss the climate crisis.

    Our first cohort of EwC Scholars have settled in brilliantly into boarding school life in China having been there already for six months. They have enjoyed cultural trips, taken part in Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, competed in fencing, public speaking and swimming competitions as well as rowing, playing basketball and music alongside their full-on academic classes.

    And that’s not all…. registrations are now open for the ‘Global Perspectives’ summer camps, July 2024 in China.

    Designed for curious, young minds who imagine a world beyond their experience, this camp will delight and inspire pupils as they discover China’s culture, history, language and tech advancement during an action-packed schedule at our partner school, Wycombe Abbey Changzhou. Use Code HJ2024 to ensure your special offer price.

    Keep checking the website for news of our EwC Scholarship application process for 2024-26 opening soon. This fully-funded scholarship will expand this year to enable an additional 30 British 16 year-old students (who will complete their GCSEs this summer) to study their A-levels in China. Interviews and selection will take place before Easter 2024.

    We wish all teachers & students a great start to the new term as they anticipate exam season. At a time when the world (& the weather) looks gloomy may the character traits of the Year of the Dragon to come, including confidence, energy & ambition, equip us all with greater understanding, cooperation & kindness, leading to better times to come.

    Happy New Year to you all! 新年快乐！万事如意

  • Chinese Ambassador urges people to deal with China by understanding it better at China-UK ‘Dialogue’  

    The Chinese Ambassador, His Excellency Zheng Zeguang, was the guest speaker at a ‘Dialogue with the Ambassador’ charity fundraising dinner on 14 June joined by 100 guests from the Chinese and British communities and held at the Home Grown Club, Central London.

    It is rare to secure the most senior representative of the Chinese government in the UK – particularly when the event host is a small, independent educational charity called Engage with China (EwC). The event was timely in light of comments by Baroness Martha Lane Fox, entrepreneur business woman and President of the British Chambers of Commerce, whose article in The Times last week said, “China is key for all of us so wise up and don’t miss out!” The event also preceded the visit by US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, to Beijing this week which heralded a move to stabilise relations with China.

    A Director of EwC, ‘H-J’ Colston-Inge, is a Mandarin speaker. She was invited to meet President Xi Jinping during his State Visit to the UK in 2015. During her speech at the event, H-J said, “I dare you to be risk-takers. To be counter-cultural. To engage more with China.”

    The vision of EwC is to build a China-literate generation in the UK by sparking the imagination about the world’s second largest economy. As H-J says, “whether we like it or not, the fact is that China’s influence and impact is being felt everywhere.” H-J added that “At this Dialogue event, we provided a unique platform to uncover the human side of China-UK relations via a more informal chat with the Ambassador rather than a dry speech. The Ambassador was very responsive and personal in his responses. History is so often influenced by individuals and so the more engagement we can create that enables people to understand and appreciate different cultural nuances, the better prospects are for building positive dialogue and trust.” 

    She added, “we are committed to building competitive edge in schools, and to do this we need to build global awareness around China, despite the current geo-political backdrop. We believe that this will not only enrich the lives of our young people but also enable them to flourish in a future where China is increasingly significant.” 

    The event included a networking reception, speeches and an interview with the Ambassador. When asked by Co-Director, Theresa Booth, what one thing would Ambassador Zheng want a young person in the UK to know about China,” he answered,

    “First of all, thanks to Theresa and H-J at Engage with China. Your work is so touching. All diplomacy is about people. Tonight is about people and enabling us to talk together and where we can talk freely. Thank you for all you have done over all these years. Secondly, China is a country with a long history and a lot to be proud of. It is also full of challenges. The best way to deal with China is to learn more about China.”

    Ambassador Zheng Zeguang, Dialogue with the Ambassador event, 14 June 2023

    Recognising the importance of this event, sponsors included some of the biggest global corporate names. Diamond Sponsor for the event was Cranswick Plc, one of the largest British food-producing companies with annual revenues in excess of £1.4bn. Cranswick’s Chief Operating Office, Neil Willis said, “Cranswick have been exporting British pork to China since 2012, and we value the relationships we have built over the last 11 years.  We are proud to support this event and are keen to further develop our trade partnerships.”  Other sponsors included Savills, a global property company, Hurun Inc. which compiles the China Rich List, and FOSUN, a conglomerate.

    The Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, former Group Chairman of HSBC, said a few words via a video link saying that “there is nothing more important in this day and age [than learning about China].” Other notable guests included The Rt. Hon. Sir Vince Cable, former Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (and who is also a Patron of the charity), Robin Walker, MP for Worcester and a member of the Education Select Committee and Lewis Neal, Director for Economic Diplomacy at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

    Jing Wei, whose clients include e-commerce giant Alibaba, is Managing Director of creative UK- China communication agency UK Sunshine Digital. She said that, “this ‘Dialogue with the Ambassador’ event was not only a charity event, but also one of this year’s great cultural exchange opportunities between China and the UK. At this event, business representatives from China and the UK gathered together to promote the mission of Engage with China; this was one of the best events in London this year.” Other sponsors included luxury watch winder heritage company Rapport London, Corbook, a B2B platform, the IoD City Branch and international law firm, Wedlake Bell LLP.

    Lili Zhang, Head of UK Asia Pacific Department, Savills, who attended the event said, “China is the world’s second largest economy and Savills UK looks forward to strengthening our connections with China.”

    EwC’s work is focussed mainly in primary and secondary schools. Mark Fenton, CEO of the Grammar Schools Heads’ Association said, “Schools & educators need to help youngsters to thrive in very uncertain conditions. China is a subject that, for many people, is in the “too difficult box.” In terms of helping youngsters understand how the world is going to be in the next 50 years, I think that China needs to be very much a part of that.”

    Co-Director, Theresa Booth, added, “Engage with China’s name reflects the fact that cultural engagement and dialogue is part of its mission. This event played an important part in that by enabling people to meet together, understand and appreciate different cultural nuances and thereby build better prospects for greater positive dialogue and trust.” 

    Thank you to our sponsors and supporters for enabling this event to take place and to build vital funds to expand the work of EwC in UK schools.

    To make a donation, please give generously via our JustGiving page:

  • Education enables dialogue with Chinese Ambassador

    Engage with China is excited to host a senior level networking dinner with Chinese Ambassador, Zheng Zeguang, on 24 May 2023 in Central London. The theme of the evening is building education and dialogue as a means of widening opportunities, trust and engagement between China and the UK.

    The emphasis of the evening will be to fundraise for the charity and many corporates, educators, government ministers and individuals from both the UK and China and from across industry sectors are jumping at the opportunity to sponsor and attend this rare opportunity to meet the Chinese Ambassador.

    Cranswick Plc, one of the largest British food producing companies and with annual revenues in excess of £1.4bn, will be a Diamond Sponsor. Spokesperson Neil Willis said, 

    Cranswick have been exporting British pork to China since 2012, and we value the relationships we have built over the last 11 years.  We are proud to support this event and are keen to further develop our trade partnerships.

    H-J Colston-Inge, Director of EwC and herself a Mandarin speaker, said,

    We are hosting this high-level event to fundraise for our charity. You can’t light a fire without a spark and this event is about highlighting the link between preparing young people for a China-centric future – and skills and creativity that will support business. My curiosity of and fascination with China was sparked as a teenager on my first visit there in 1985. China was another country back then and now its influence and impact is being felt everywhere.

    H-J added, “the current geo-political backdrop is unhelpful, however. We believe that this does not serve either of our countries well, nor help our young people to flourish in an increasingly China-centric world or for our economies to prosper.”

    The event is a fundraising dinner to enable the charity to reach another 2,000 pupils in schools across the UK by the end of the academic year 2024 and open their eyes to China, its impact, influence, innovations and opportunities. Recognising the importance of discovering more about China as an important aspect of education today, Gareth Doodes, CEO and Headmaster of the King’s School, Worcester and also Chair-Elect of the Society of Heads, said,

    The event hopes to raise £100k for the charity to develop new educational resources, reach an additional 2,000 UK pupils by the end of the academic year 2024, host its 3rd international, climate change Model UN conference and grow its core team. The event will be attended by 100 guests who will hear speeches from educator and historian, Sir Anthony Seldon. Guests will also be invited to bid in a silent auction for exclusive prize donations such as a Coronation Hamper from Fortnum & Mason’s, Rapport London, Tickets to this year’s Three Choirs Festival in Hereford, a stunning, glass laser etching by artist Katharine Dowson & a private tour of the Museum of Royal Worcester with tea served on Royal Worcester china.

    EwC is very grateful to all its sponsors including Wedlake Bell, UK Sunshine Digital, Corbook, FOSUN, Hurun UK, UKCIC and supporters Chopsticks Club and the IoD.

  • ‘Chopsticks Challenge’ unleashes competitive spirit

    Visitors to the fruit-themed Summer Fun Day at the Museum of Royal Worcester on Wednesday 17 August were delighted to compete in the ‘Chopsticks Challenge’ organised by Engage with China, one of the participating exhibitors. Concentration, dexterity, and calmness under pressure were three of the main skills required of visitors as they attempted to achieve the highest score of picking up and transferring raisins from one bowl to another.  People of all ages, including grandparents and children as young as six years old, gave it their best go, with some being taught how to use chopsticks for the very first time.

    Winner, George White, aged 12, (right)

    The winner in the young category, was George White, who goes to school in Worcester. His Mum, Lorraine said, “We all had a lovely time doing the activities. The ladies at the fruit sketching and Cheese tables were especially engaging with the children, which made all the difference.” Lucy Wicks, who teaches Chinese at Didcot Girls School in Oxfordshire, showed off her mastery by almost emptying the contents of her raisin bowl in the allotted 30 seconds. Her advantage was clear when she explained that, “I spent time in China observing how Chinese people eat and they can really shovel the food in efficiently. I learnt to copy that.”

    “Learning about China through an object as simple as chopsticks is an easy access point to learning about  China’s culture, history and its impact on the rest of the world. H-J Colston-Inge, who delivered the session, and Director of Engage with China,” said. “We teach young people in schools about how much we as a nation, have wanted from China over centuries – including tea, porcelain, chinoiserie – and how its innovation has inspired our culture, traditions, tastes and fashion. Being able to immerse the visitors, by virtue of being physically in the midst of the porcelain collection at the Museum, and to talk about our huge cultural links with China, is both compelling and fascinating. It’s a brilliant way to open eyes to a whole new world, build curiosity and creativity and to see how China has been a driver of that over many centuries.” 

    Other fruit-themed activities were on offer from Engage with China. Visitors learnt about motifs in Chinese art and their hidden symbolism as well as how to pronounce and write the Chinese characters, for the word ‘fruit.’ 

    Visitors tried out calligraphy for themselves surrounded by the porcelain collection

    “This calligraphy has been so wonderful and calming,” said Rachel Needham, an attentive grandmother giving her granddaughter a great day out. “It’s been so good for the adults, too.” 

    Visitors were also able to be develop their artistic skills making their own fruity books, learning from former Royal Worcester expert artist how to paint onto porcelain and playing with words and story with the Rhianna Levi, Poet Laureate. 

    Director, H-J Colston-Inge, teaches a young person how to use chopsticks

    Engage with China is delighted to be a new partner of the Museum of Royal Worcester to develop links and outreach both in the community and beyond.

  • Y8 China Challenge Days result in invitation to return

    “Shenzhen is 13 times the size of Birmingham,” recounted one bright pupil at the end of Day Two of our China Challenge Days delivered into Walkwood Church of England Middle School this week. This is perfectly true – but many people probably haven’t even heard of Shenzhen. In the space of 40 years, Shenzhen, a previously sleepy, undeveloped coastal area in southern China with a population the equivalent of Redditch in Worcestershire, has fast become a burgeoning metropolis boasting the accolade of being China’s Silicon Valley and one of the busiest container ports in the world. It is just one of the many examples of China’s development unprecedented in history that is manifest in 100s of new cities across China that have taken shape as part of China’s economic development over the last few decades. Alongside this economic growth, fuelled by western consumption and the desire for cheap goods made in China, the ‘Middle Kingdom – the translation from the Chinese name for itself – is a renewed national self-confidence that harks as far back as the ancient Silk Roads when China was very much a superpower and other nations desired its silk, porcelain and tea. 

    Pupils learn about Chinese characters through language de-coder game

    Some 2.5 years ago a conversation with Principal, Reverend Clive Leach, and H-J Colston-Inge, Director of Engage with China, an educational charity that builds China literacy in schools, culminated in an agreement about the importance of building global awareness in school through the lens of China. An invitation to deliver a Challenge Day to Y8 ensued but unfortunately the pandemic delayed the visit until Monday this week. 

    “There’s a real buzz in school today,” said Dani Timmins, Assistant Principal. “…It is three years since we have been able to invite in any outside speakers into school and we are really excited to engage our pupils with our new curriculum which will look at China.” For H-J and her colleague, Theresa Booth, at Engage with China, it was an equal delight to be able to bring China alive in the classroom and it was music to our ears to hear Ms Timmins agree with us that, “China is a global force and it is really important that children recognise this… if we can inspire their curiosity, then they will learn more as well.” 

    Two half day sessions were delivered to 170 pupils. Activities and content were wide-ranging and included mandarin language, role play about the environment in China and its commitment to renewables, the rise and fall and rise of China as a superpower and population size through an activity involving 60kgs of rice! “To be able to do an activity like this which the school could not resource, was fantastic!” said Mrs Timmins.  

    H-J Colston-Inge said, “since we went to China in the 1980s, my colleague Theresa and I, have spent a lifetime building China literacy and opportunity between China and the UK from the boardroom to the classroom. As China continues to develop, its impact and influence on the world only continues to grow. It seems to us that we do young people a dis-service if we do not build competitive edge by opening eyes to the second largest economy in the world and it is always a delight when pupils say they want to go to China – as one did today – having been involved in one of our China Days.”

    On summarising the learnings, one pupil, Lucas, highlighted that “190 languages are spoken in China” and another correctly noted that one in four people is Chinese. H-J continued that, “it is so encouraging to hear pupil recall about the learnings and to know that they have been engaged. Working with a big group can be tricky but the pupils were a delight and a credit to the school. The warm welcome, which began on arrival at the school gates from the Head himself, coupled with the positive atmosphere which permeated the whole school, were testament to the fruits of faith ethos there and it was a privilege to work with these pupils.” Feedback from pupils and staff has been positive. One teacher, who helped to facilitate remarked on the “great resources and very knowledgeable tutors who were excellent in engaging pupils.” The best news came at the end of Day Two when Mrs Timmins said,

    I want to invite Engage with China back in next year to teach our Year 7s and make this a regular feature of our school curriculum!

    加油 as they say in China! Bring it on!

  • Educational pioneers in creating a “strategic resource for Global Britain”

    “Governments can have policies,” says British Ambassador to China, Dame Caroline Wilson, “but it is ultimately people who deliver and implement those policies.” Speaking at a recent online forum for young adults who have spent time in China on the Generation UK programme, the Ambassador continued that it is vital, therefore, to have a range of people with different skills who are “informed about China and are therefore more equipped to enable the people-to-people dialogue, interaction and trust that are key to developing a positive bi-lateral relationship. Such people,” Dame Caroline continued, “are a strategic resource for Global Britain.”

    Engage with China (EwC) is an educational charity building China literacy in primary and secondary schools. Enriching the curriculum through fresh knowledge about China, pupils make connections across a wide range of curriculum subjects and engage with the country that is likely to have a larger impact on their future than any other.

    Pupils are encouraged to look at different values and systems, to interrogate and challenge perceptions and think about their identity in a changing world.  Whether one likes China or not, our belief is that we need to engage with what China is like, how come it is like it is and what that means for the world. Through our ‘China Challenge Days’ we open young eyes to what is happening there; we feel that China has to be an important part of a wider education about what the world is like and how it has changed since globalisation, how we are inter-connected in so many ways through trade, history, logistics, tech, AI, social media, not least through the very planet we inhabit.

    H-J Colston-Inge, Director, Engage with China

    The bi-lateral relationship may be wounded at the moment “but demonising China does not lead to solutions,” Dame Caroline added. “The world is full of opportunities, no more so than in China.” This sort of news headline is seldom on the front pages of the media and yet it is those positive stories that could well inspire creativity in the young generation today that in turn could boost the economy and develop trade and entrepreneurship in the future.

    Zhou Qunfei, Founder, Lens Technology, whose factories produce over one billion glass screens for electronic hand-held devices every year

    One visionary headteacher from the outstanding Trinity St Peter’s school in Liverpool, Deborah Pringle, was excited about what EwC could offer her pupils and enabled them to take part in an early pilot project. She applauded “the way [EwC] showcases some of China’s entrepreneurs and those human stories of rags to riches.” She continued, “Our school community lives in an area of financial as well as aspirational poverty. When you talked about Zhou Qunfei, subsistence farmer-turned-billionaire, supplying glass to multinational smartphone companies like Apple and Samsung … those are the kinds of messages young people need to hear…That they can leverage their experiences; that their life narrative can change and that opportunity is all around us.”

    Theresa Booth, Director of Engage with China, says, “We have created a pioneering pathway in schools to develop a generational resource for Global Britain, teaching pupils about China – and we are proud of that achievement. There are certain cultural reference points that youngsters need to know – and if they do not know much about China then this significantly impacts on their cultural literacy and understanding of the world today.” She continued, “We are excited to be back in the classroom from September working with young people again face to face. Importantly, it is good that more and more schools are expressing an interest to work with us…” 

  • Durham student internships reap China-UK educational benefits

    Two Durham University students have just completed a 10-week internship programme with Engage with China, an independent educational charity, thanks to a philanthropic gift from an alumnus in Chinese Studies also from Durham.

    Olivia Farr, currently in her 3rd year studying Chinese, should have been in China for her year abroad and Riley Lin, a postgraduate student studying marketing at the Business School, is from Xiamen in Eastern China. For obvious Covid reasons, this academic year for both of them has been contrary to expectations; for Riley this meant that she had only online lessons and Olivia has been based at home and never made it to China for her year abroad.

    However, an opportunity to become interns with Engage with China, an independent educational charity building China literacy in schools, was exciting for two successful candidates. The roles included social media development, research and event planning and enabled the students to develop new skills and work experience in these most unusual times. Asked why she wanted to work for the charity and how it benefited her, Ms Farr said; 

    Engage with China is filling a crucial gap in the curriculum and helping children to reach bright futures that will undoubtedly be impacted by their understanding of Chinese language and culture. It is about time the UK education system caught up and helped children to develop their global outlook, as such Engage with China is stepping up. During my internship with Engage with China I was given the opportunity to gain new skills and communicate in ways that were not previously available to me. It has given me the confidence to experiment with new social media platforms and converse with people in multiple languages in a business setting, whilst allowing me to constantly expand my knowledge.

    Olivia Farr, Undergraduate in Chinese Studies
    Weekly team meetings were held via Zoom

    Speaking about the work of the charity, Director Ms H-J Colston said, 

    “Through our curriculum enrichment programmes and resources we aim to add breadth to the curriculum, to challenge perspectives and to open eyes to modern China, its development and its impact. We are a small charity and having two bright students working with us who have an interest in and knowledge of China, has boosted our output exponentially. Thanks to the vision of a generous donor who, like us, believes in nurturing opportunities for young people with mandarin and China-related skills, we were able to provide an opportunity to work cross-culturally and to converse in both mandarin and English to develop their language skills, too. Despite having to work remotely and to meet only online, we are so grateful to the students for their ideas and what they have achieved in a short space of time.”

    This internship gave me a better understanding of how foreign media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) is run. The internship also allowed me to practice speaking English,” said Ms Lin. “The team is very friendly and empowers the interns to express ideas and thoughts, making it a great internship experience.

    Riley Lin, postgraduate student

    Engage with China is currently looking for volunteers with teaching experience to help with developing more resources as it enters the next phase of growth. Please contact us if interested.