Speaker for the March 15th meeting: Mr. Shi Qing Hua

Mr. Shi from Guang Ai School, came to talk to us about his school for abandoned children and orphans and why he founded the school in the first place.

Coming to Beijing after a fire severely disfigured his wife and child, Shi spent all the money he had on doctor’s fees. Forced to live on the streets, sleeping under bridges, he and his family became friends with a number of abandoned children.

Some years later Shi pulled himself out of poverty by setting up a kindergarten and then a school. Both were commercially successful. Shi left the management of these schools with his wife and set up Guang Ai school with the funds raised from his own pocket.

The philosophy of Guang Ai is that with education, community and a little love, these children can have a decent shot at life. Guang Ai has gone from 43 students in 2003 to over a hundred now. Mr. Shi told us that feeding the children is the largest problem. In the past, he’s had several charitable individuals deliver food, but who have had to leave the country for work.

However, education, he believes is the most important aspect of the school. This might be something that Rotaract can help with.

Over the past 6-7 years, Guang Ai has received a fair amount of media attention. Most of the videos are available on their website.