China Philanthropy News
July 2008
Issue 016
Click here for PDF version of this publication
China Philanthropy News is produced by Grantmakers Without Borders (Gw/oB) for grantmaking organizations, donors and individuals interested in philanthropic engagement with China. It provides current news on giving, useful resources, people and books to provide a better understanding of the landscape of philanthropy in the country. For more information on Grantmakers Without Borders, visit www.gwob.net.
CONTENTS
Gw/oB HAPPENINGS
1) Gw/oB to host Bay-Area funder gathering
Current NEWS
2) China is one of the first stops for Gates in his new philanthropy job
3) Intel chairman visits pilot schools in earthquake-devastated areas and joins hands with local government to rebuild Sichuan
4) Cisco to provide US$45 million to support rebuilding efforts in China's earthquake-affected Sichuan province
5) All shook up
6) Earthquake may lead to new future for private civic groups
7) Earthquake rocks China's civil society
8) China rights lawyer in one-man crusade for fairer future
9) China's new freedom fighters
10) AIDS orphans in China: A public health and social crisis
11) Children, coal don't mix
12) Wen Bo: Environmentalism growing in China
13) China: Help from the People
14) Beijing's water crisis and economic collapse
15) China's environmental footprint in Africa
16) Ties with China a major driver of growth in Africa
17) China and Africa
Useful RESOURCES
18) Report: "Evolution of China's aid policy"
19) Report: "China's aid to Africa: Implications for civil society"
20) Report: "Denied status, denied education: Children of North Korean women in China"
21) Report: "Helping people build a better world? Barriers to more environmentally friendly energy production in China: the case of Shell"
Upcoming EVENTS
22) "Asia-Pacific Sub-regional Preparatory Conference for the 2009 World Conference on Higher Education" September 24-26, 2008; Macao, PR China
Latest BOOKS
23) A Floating City of Peasants: The Great Migration in Contemporary China, Floris-Jan van Luyn, New Press, 2008
China PROFILE
24) Randy Yeh, Founder and Director, New Path Foundation
- Gw/oB HAPPENINGS -
1) Gw/oB to host Bay-Area funder gathering
Grantmakers and global donors are cordially invited to join members and friends of Grantmakers Without Borders for an afternoon of learning and networking in San Francisco, on Tuesday, July 29th from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. The afternoon will feature a presentation on site visits (what works and what doesn't), led by Jennifer Anderson-Bähr of the Firelight Foundation; a discussion of the global financial system and the current crisis led by Victor Menotti of the International Forum on Globalization; and speed networking opportunities, a hit at Gw/oB's recent conference. The event will take place at the World Affairs Council of Northern California, 312 Sutter Street, Suite 200. The cost of this event is free, but donations will be accepted at the event to help defray room rental and refreshment costs. Please RSVP with Erik Schnabel, Gw/oB's Membership Coordinator, at erik@gwob.net .
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- Current NEWS -
2) China is one of the first stops for Gates in his new philanthropy job
In his new capacity as director of the Gates Foundation, Bill Gates will make China one of his first stops. In China the foundation is working on a number of health- related programs, including HIV/AIDS and curbing smoking. The foundation also hopes to bring Chinese expertise in agriculture to Africa. As reported by the Seattle Times.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008015888_gatesfoundchina25.html and http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008025740_webgatesfoundqa29.html
3) Intel chairman visits pilot schools in earthquake-devastated areas and joins hands with local government to rebuild Sichuan
Following in the footsteps of Gates in bringing technology and philanthropy to poverty- stricken areas, Intel has recently launched a new program in the earthquake- devastated areas of Sichuan province in China. "Iworld," as the new program is called, will set up 200 teched-out 'e-classrooms' in hopes of getting children back to school. It is also aimed at helping Sichuan link to the outside world. Chipzilla will be donating $6.9 million, supplemented by employees and the Intel Foundation. As reported by a press release from Intel. http://www.intel.com/pressroom/archive/releases/20080623corp.htm?iid=pr1_releasepri_20080623r
4) Cisco to provide US$45 million to support rebuilding efforts in China's earthquake-affected Sichuan province
Cisco has committed to a three-year $45 million project to support reconstruction efforts in Sichuan following the earthquake. Their support will focus on public-private partnerships to help develop progressive education and healthcare models, enabled by collaborative networked information technology and communications. These models will be designed with an eye towards replication and scaling in countries around the world. As reported by Cisco press release.
http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2008/corp_070108.html?CMP=AF17154& vs_f=News@Cisco:+News+Releases&vs_p=News@Cisco:+News+Releases&vs_k=1
5) All shook up
In the wake of the Sichuan earthquake, a changing landscape has emerged from the rubble: Civic activists have come out strong, both in terms of donating their wealth, as in the case of rich philanthropists, and in contributing business skills in the reconstruction efforts. Moreover, the government has been more accepting of nongovernmental organizations that have arisen. This article looks at the developments that have taken place, including the demand for greater accountability of government officials. As reported by Newsweek.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/142563/page/3
6) Earthquake may lead to new future for private civic groups
The opening of access for civic groups and private charities is a new thing for China, advanced in part by the earthquake in Sichuan. However, the question remains as to whether this flexibility on the part of the government will last. While some experts warn that unrestricted access can cause more harm than good, others point to the shift in political and social climate often following large disasters. As reported by Voice of America. http://voanews.com/english/2008-06-27-voa45.cfm
7) Earthquake rocks China's civil society
This article looks at the role of civil society and its growth in China, particularly in the wake of the earthquake. While the number of NGOs remains high and continues to rise, the semantics of what constitutes a "real NGO" is still debated. Yet for many groups, their aim is to be good partners to the government, and recently, there has been more evidence that the government is beginning to acknowledge the benefits of having NGOs as partners. In particular, AIDS NGOs have been effective at pushing the boundaries of collaboration, as evidenced by programs such as the Global Fund, which mandates the participation of civil society groups. As reported by the Far Eastern Economic Review. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/China_AIDS_Survey/message/2456
8) China rights lawyer in one-man crusade for fairer future
Mo Shaoping, a veteran rights lawyer that works to defend the rights of many famous dissidents in China, manages his own NGO situated in between the Forbidden City and Zhongnanhai, the Communist leadership compound. Many of the activists he defends have been jailed or exiled. While many other lawyers have refused to take on such cases in fear of repercussions, Mo hopes that by doing so he will help to transform the rule of law in the country. While he applauds the state for placing constitutional protections on human rights and private property, he believes that the country still has a ways to go towards establishing a democratic system. As reported by Agence France Presse. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080703/lf_afpchinarightslawpeople_080703162158
9) China's new freedom fighters
This article looks at four activists in China who have continued in their pursuit for free speech. Each has struggled to maintain their work in the face of enormous challenges, some having to leave the country to continue with their activism. Here, the Guardian takes a look at what motivates these activists and why they feel they must remain in their respective fields despite the difficulties and risks. As reported by the Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/06/china.humanrights
10) AIDS orphans in China: A public health and social crisis
As AIDS continues to spread in China, the number of children infected and affected by this epidemic has become an even more worrisome public health and social issue. The increase in AIDS orphans parallels that of the rest of the world, and those who have lost both parents are more likely to be malnourished and unschooled, as well as being at greater risk to infection themselves. Moreover, they are more vulnerable emotionally and may engage in risky behavior as they grow up. A recent study in China shows that the need to educate remains strong: only 8 percent knew how HIV is transmitted, and 25 percent of rural residents hadn't heard of the infection. As reported by the Epoch Times. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/China_AIDS_Survey/message/2466
11) Children, coal don't mix
A new study reveals development effects on children caused by pollution. Specifically, the study showed that children born after a coal plant was shut down in Tongliang showed fewer delays in developing motor skills. Environmental experts point to the government's shutting down of plants as beneficial to surrounding populations and the health of children. In other studies, researchers point to other health benefits of clean air and environment for children. As reported by MSNBC.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25677038/
12) Wen Bo: Environmentalism growing in China
Wen Bo is an environmental activist who started Greenpeace in China in 2000 and later moved on to various activities to support local and international NGOs in the country. In this interview Wen talks about the role that technology can play in furthering the environmental grassroots sector in China and the new generation of activists. As reported by CNN Asia. http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/06/19/green.wenbo/
13) China: Help from the People
This article looks at the advances the environmental movement has gained over the years. The leadership of the new generation of government, which has sought to boost their popularity by tackling everyday problems, has in part helped to further this movement. Since the 1990's, environmental groups have mushroomed: there are now over 2,000 environmental groups in China. As reported by Newsweek. http://www.newsweek.com/id/48579
14) Beijing's water crisis and economic collapse
This article looks at the fears surrounding the water crisis in Beijing and its potential impacts. Currently, Beijing consumes more water than is deposited by rainfall and has been forced to move into water mining. Some fear that the city could run out of water in 5 to 10 years and that many people will have to be relocated. In the article some considerations for making a more sustainable system are explored. As reported by CSR Asia. http://www.csr-asia.com/weekly_detail.php?id=11417
15) China's environmental footprint in Africa
While many have explored the impacts of China's investments and role in Africa, few have focused on the environmental impacts of such involvement. This article looks at some of the reasons why this relationship is problematic. For example, the article points to Chinese domestic policies that have long favored economic growth over environmental protection and the extension of these policies to Africa; the accessibility to resources that have yet to be explored by western investments; and the concentration of Chinese investments in certain sectors that are particularly environmentally sensitive. As reported by CSR Asia.
http://www.csr-asia.com/weekly_detail.php?id=11416
16) Ties with China a major driver of growth in Africa
Over the years, the partnership between China and South Africa has been one of the closest in Asia/Africa relations. Underpinning this relationship is a mutual interest in economic growth, and South Africa is one of China's top trading partners. This article looks at some of the challenges emerging from this development, spurred in part by the uneven trade in certain sectors of the South African economy. As reported by Business Day. http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/opinion.aspx?ID=BD4A786309
17) China and Africa
China's increasing and deepening role in Africa has caused concern for many of its Asian neighbors and has elicited criticism from Africa as well. In a bid to catch up to China, both Japan and India have recently pledged billions of dollars in aid to the region. Many question the motives behind China's involvement, and investments in Namibia and Zambia recently have sparked riots and protest amid criticism of poor working conditions and low pay. As reported by the International Herald Tribune.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/06/19/opinion/edbesada.php
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- Useful RESOURCES -
18) Report: "Evolution of China's aid policy"
This paper attempts to understand China's policy on external assistance, focusing on the period after 1995 when reforms took place on its aid delivery system. The authors argue that since China has an increasing presence in the international community, it is rapidly emerging as a player to be reckoned with in the arena of international development assistance. Available at http://www.jbic.go.jp/japanese/research/report/working/pdf/wp27_e.pdf.
19) Report: "China's aid to Africa: Implications for civil society"
This paper provides an overview of China's ODA to Africa for civil society organizations. Its scope spans Chinese aid, investment, trade and diplomatic ties, as the three are closely linked. In as far as CSOs - and development NGOs especially - work within the 'aid chain', changes to the aid landscape have implications for the ways in which NGOs function. Available at http://www.intrac.org/docs.php/2996/Briefing%20Paper%2017%20-%20Chinas%20Aid%20to%20Africa.pdf.
20) Report: "Denied status, denied education: Children of North Korean women in China"
In the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in eastern Jilin province, northeast China, many North Korean children and children of Chinese fathers and North Korean mothers live in legal limbo. There is no official data estimating the number of such children living in the area, but local residents put the number at anywhere between a few thousand and several tens of thousands. To investigate these issues, Human Rights Watch traveled to Chinese towns and cities near the China-North Korea border between late November 2007 and early January 2008. While the number of interviews is small, the problems addressed in this report stem from larger questions of legal status which directly affect tens of thousands of North Koreans in Yanbian and beyond. Available at http://gsed.wordpress.com/2008/07/09/report-denied-status-denied-education-children-of-north-korean-women -in-china-human-rights-watch-2008/.
21) Report: "Helping people build a better world? Barriers to more environmentally friendly energy production in China: the case of Shell"
China's rapid industrialization and economic expansion are causing massive environmental damage, with consequences beyond the country's borders, especially due to the use of fossil fuels. Shell China can contribute to making energy production, if not clean and sustainable, then cleaner and more sustainable by making existing energy production more environmentally friendly; by diversifying and developing alternative energy sources; and by creating precedence to influence others to follow in its footsteps. Available at http://www.fni.no/publ/china.html.
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- Upcoming EVENTS -
22) "Asia-Pacific Sub-regional Preparatory Conference for the 2009 World Conference on Higher Education"
September 24-26, 2008; Macao, PR China
The aim of the Sub-Regional Preparatory Conference is to take stock of major developments and trends on higher education in the Asia-Pacific region. The outcomes of this conference will serve as one of the inputs to the 2009 WCHE. More specifically, the objectives of the conference are to: prepare a series of thematic debates on important issues on higher education in the region; collect inputs from governments, intergovernmental organizations, non-government organizations, higher education networks and other partners in the WCHE follow-up; and report on what is happening to member states in the field of higher education.
http://www.unescobkk.org/index.php?id=7910
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- Latest BOOKS -
23) A Floating City of Peasants: The Great Migration in Contemporary China, Floris-Jan van Luyn, New Press, 2008
The following book review was written by Malia Politzer, a freelance journalist based in Beijing, and featured in the Far Eastern Economic Review, May 2008 issue.
In 2005, there were 191 million international migrants, or people living outside their native countries, according to data from the United Nations. Compare this to as many as 210 million Chinese migrant workers moving from their rural homes to cities, and it's easy to see why some immigration experts call it the largest mass migration in human history.
There's no question that rural peasant labor is fueling China's economic leap forward. They build the high-rises that grace Beijing's skyline, the roads and highways, and provide the cheap labor that has made China "the world's factory."
This colossal internal migration-an integral facet of the China story-is the subject of journalist Floris-Jan van Luyn's book, A Floating City of Peasants: The Great Migration in Contemporary China. A Dutch journalist who spent nearly six years living in and reporting from China for the Rotterdam-based NRC Handelsblad, Mr. van Luyn tells the stories of the people behind China's rapid economic growth, following them from the faltering economies of China's rural heartland to the metropolitan boomtowns of Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing. Once in the cities they do the work that the urban population will not do-construction and manual labor, cleaning, childcare, working in the dish rooms at restaurants, garbage collection and factory work.
Through more than a dozen intimate vignettes, the author paints human portraits of the people who are often spoken of only in statistical terms. We meet Chunming, a 16-year-old-boy who runs away from home in order to join an uncle in Beijing, earning money by scavenging urban trash. Then there are Cai Lulu and Yi Congcong, two children sent to the cities by their parents to earn income by selling flowers; and Yang Chun, a 23-year-old woman who works in the textile factories of Shenzhen.
China's rapid growth has pulled millions of people out of poverty in an astonishingly short period of time, as economic liberalization and rapid urbanization has led to a wealth of opportunities in cities. It should come as no surprise that rural workers seeking better economic prospects are moving to cities en masse-where they not only earn more than they would working in rural regions, but are also able to send some of their newfound wealth back home in the form of remittances.
Women are among the main participants in urban opportunities: Factory jobs, often preferring to hire women-who are seen as more dexterous and obedient than men-present uneducated woman with a means to financial autonomy far beyond any they would find in rural regions. Interviews with factory workers in Shenzhen show that many of these women-young, unmarried, independent-find in their labor financial independence and self-respect.
Yet Mr. van Luyn also finds that peasants pursuing these economic incentives often walk the fine line between opportunity and exploitation. Women, though often beneficiaries of urban opportunities, are also the most vulnerable: While those lucky enough to secure factory jobs find economic empowerment and self-sufficiency, many others-lured to remote regions with false promises of legitimate work-find themselves coerced into sex work at bath houses, karaoke bars and brothels.
The reality peasants seek to escape is darker still. Much of Mr. van Luyn's book dwells on the rural problems peasants face at home: Illegal land seizures and lack of private property ownership prevent peasants from taking advantage of real-estate opportunities. Despite recent attempts by the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing to relieve pressure on peasants by officially abolishing the agricultural taxes, they still suffer under heavy (often illegal) local taxes forced on them by corrupt officials.
The author discloses a series of narratives illuminating how commonplace it is for development and infrastructure to be obstructed by corruption-roads that fail to be built, large central funding schemes that fail to reach their intended beneficiaries. In one particularly horrifying account, Mr. van Luyn introduces Li Lusong, a 20-year-old man who is abducted, beaten-nearly to death-and has his tongue partially cut out in order to silence him when he persists in petitioning local officials to build a new school.
This paints a dreary but incomplete picture. Though he dedicates a cursory chapter to the economic incentives driving migration, the bulk of his book focuses on the push-factors behind migration-corruption and the absence of an independent judiciary and rule-of-law. While these problems certainly exist, this approach obscures the primary factor driving migration, economic opportunity. Entirely absent from his analysis are any substantive suggestions on what can be done to make life in the countryside more economically feasible.
Certainly, there remains much of which to be critical. Though the government has loosened many of the restrictions posed by hukou (hereditary household registration issued at birth), migrants are still required to transfer their hukous to cities in order to access worker protection or benefits-an expensive and time-consuming process corrupt officials often use to extort money from migrants.
The children of workers holding rural hukou are not entitled to urban education-forcing migrants either to leave their children behind, or to simply to leave them uneducated. And rural hukou holders do not have access to health care or social services in the cities where they work, and are sometimes exploited or abused by both employers and the police. Meanwhile, employers, aware that migrants are often unable to take complaints to police, wait months to pay migrants, or do not pay them at all. In 2006, President Hu Jintao estimated some $12 billion were still owed to migrants.
Implicit in Mr. van Luyn's book is a critique of a system that necessitates such mass migration for peasants who are unable to secure a promising future in their hometowns. But he also realistically accepts that as long as cities provide better economic opportunities than those found in rural regions, "the peasant invasion is inevitable." At the end of the day, migration might be a growing pain of China's rapid growth. But what will shape China's future is the way Beijing chooses to deal with this migrant population.
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- China PROFILE -
24) Randy Yeh, founder and director, New Path Foundation
This month, CPN speaks with Randy Yeh, founder and director of New Path Foundation, an organization that promotes voluntarism in China. Here, he speaks with us about philanthropy in China, his own experiences, and the growth of voluntarism. The following is a transcript of the discussion.
Q: I know you have an interesting background, particularly with the establishment of New Path Foundation. How did you first get involved in China? What was the original interest behind your involvement?
A: I had already been working in China, with AT&T and then Lucent Technologies, before I started New Path Foundation, which gave me a certain familiarity and understanding of the landscape. Before starting New Path, however, I had already been involved in long-term voluntary service in China, which grew out of my love for my grandmother, and also, gratitude towards life. I wanted to share my experience with others, both financially and spiritually. I felt abundant within and New Path is the way I could share this with the world.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about New Path and its philosophy?
A: Over the past seven years, we have cultivated a strong base of like-minded people, who are committed to sharing themselves through long-term volunteer service, and this is what we really try and promote, that spirit. There are a couple of things about New Path that I think make it unique, and also embody our values; for example, we focus on long-term services only, and we aim to have little objective when we give or share. What I mean by that is, we try to accompany others on an equal basis and without much expectation. As an organization, we operate financially on my savings, so we do not do any type of fundraising or grant application. Thus, we are not beholden to donors, and rather, our volunteers and staff work without much underlying expectations to the communities we serve. This doesn't mean we don't work hard- but that we are giving and sharing not as a sacrifice or noble behavior, but rather we are just being ourselves.
We also provide a small amount of financial support on the side, usually for new NGO startup costs, but our contributions tend to be more in-kind; for example, after the earthquake in Sichuan, we found an organization which needed to build a website, and we helped them with the website design and payment for registration and server space rental. We also helped them link up with the experts they needed. In accompanying volunteers or volunteer organizations, our relationship is one of a long-term partnership; we work with them, and accompany them on their journey.
Another special feature of our organization is the growing number of volunteer staff we have. We have more volunteer staff than paid; recently, I had had two paid staff quit taking pay from us, but they continue to work with the organization. So many have continued working with our organization, but purely as volunteers.
Q: What is the goal, or hope for New Path? What is it trying to achieve?
A: The way that I envision the work with New Path is that it is promoting long-term service for people to practice and work towards unconditional love in their life journey. For instance, China is a busy place, and people are busy- so I don't want to take out too much of people's time, but rather, I ask those who are committed to this to take a bit of time every two weeks to simply visit an elder, or a child who may need and want it. For the volunteers, I ask only one thing: to be mindful of what you are doing; be mindful of your emotions and feelings, and of those you work with. This kind of path, I think, becomes peaceful, joyous, and one of personal growth for those who undertake it.
So what I want to do is to cultivate that sense of mindfulness. That is, many people change when they undergo emotional experiences, either of pain, or something that draws them out of their comfort zone (i.e.: anger, betrayal, etc). And you can use that energy to do something positive and proactive in your life; I want to catch that proactive form of love and sharing from a volunteer and accompany him or her to practice and grow from the experience of long term one-on-one service, and to help cultivate that energy into something long-term. In some ways, I think of building an infrastructure of goodwill and voluntarism within a person, to establish that foundation of caring. I believe that if you really understand and work at being mindful of others, you can then resolve your own conflicts in your life. This is the unique method that New Path brings and hopes to bring. It is because I walked into that myself that I want to share this with others.
In terms of our future development, I see New Path shifting to support more long-term service volunteer teams in China and hopefully in India in the future; that is, becoming more of a support center instead of based on our own programs. We will continue to foster voluntarism among local groups, and will increase our own volunteer and staffing in the bases we currently have (we currently have ten bases in China). Mainly, we will either be supporting long-term service NGOs or teams, and/or individuals who are committed to this and to starting their own groups.
Q: How would you define, or how do you understand philanthropy? Why do you think philanthropy (and this kind of work) is important to China?
A: I consider myself a mixture between an NGO person and a philanthropist. To me, a philanthropist is someone who likes to share, but wants to do it through giving, to give back to society. Oftentimes, philanthropy is associated with foundation work, giving financial support or capacity development to other organizations to implement programs (as opposed to NGOs, which comprises of people initiating things they feel will make a difference). However, I do think philanthropists are able to help in indirect ways, for example, by defining a certain direction, as Gates has done with malaria.
I think philanthropy is tremendously important in China. Bill Gates, for example, can serve as an excellent model for young people, by showing them different paths at different stages of life. He brings with him the same tenacity to the foundation as he did with Microsoft. And the foundation, I think, can help to improve the capacity of NGOs in terms of results-oriented approaches. The Ford Foundation is another example; they've been here for years, and are committed to the long-term process. They have supported many organizations in China to help them get started. While foreign philanthropic donors can have a positive support, it is also important to have very clear goals, and no hidden agendas.
Q: Philanthropy among Chinese entrepreneurs is also an emerging sector; how do you see this movement developing?
A: Chinese philanthropists are just up and coming- they are still in the startup mode, but there is still a long process for them to mature. One of the most important aspects of giving is to place yourself out of it; that is, it should become ego-less, otherwise it can become conditional or self-serving. For China, philanthropy is still all over the map, they are still learning, so it's difficult to say where it's going right now. It needs to develop on its own, so that Chinese philanthropists can get a feel for what it means to them. Right now, I think its still in the learning period.
Some advice I have for philanthropists in China is that giving should be about sharing your wealth and yourself; if you get into this in order to benefit yourself, to get a better name for yourself, or to have people feel grateful to you, or demand changes with the people you serve, then you are more likely to have setbacks and disappointments. Philanthropy should be a part of you and who you are before you start doing it.
Q: How do you think voluntarism, in light of the Olympics and the Sichuan earthquake, can contribute to civil society?
A: In the wake of the Olympics and the Sichuan earthquake, I think that people are now more aware that long-term support is crucial for people in such disadvantaged situations (not only disaster). People are looking for ways they can be involved in these organizations working in these situations. For example, people have been coming to us and asking what they can do, they are beginning to have an interest in their own volunteer development.
The government has also begun promoting voluntarism much more actively now, and with its support, will get a nice boost for people getting involved in long-term service. This is important because people can give up easily if there is not enough of an infrastructural support. Moreover, it is important that people have an inner motivation to do this. I think that in China, voluntarism still has a ways to go to where it becomes a part of daily life, but it is an important question that they will have to ask themselves in the next few years. As for New Path, we want to do our part to help that progression.
Q: What is New Path doing in terms of both these events?
A: In terms of the earthquake, we are trying to support more local groups that work there instead of doing anything directly ourselves. In some ways, we are waiting to see what the government will do to see where/how we can complement the work, and to see who best to work with in terms of community groups.
We currently have ten bases for youth and the elderly, and we offer teacher trainings and other types of activities that foster long-term service for organizations committed to this type of work. We do not have any direct programs in either the Olympics or earthquake, but we do support this indirectly through our volunteers. One of our volunteers received an award from the city of Beijing this year for his work, and we have also been recognized in various capacities.
Q: If you could offer some advice to funders interested in working in China, what would it be?
A: Get to know China; come here and with a learning mindset. Even though I have lived here for 13 years, I still define myself as an outsider- so I am humble in that I listen to others and accept other people's views (although I do have my own views). The key is to build strong relationships and trust with the NGO community; for example, I think it's easier for a foreigner to partner with local organizations rather than going at it independently. Once you have become established and understand the landscape, then you can venture out onto your own. It takes time to build trust in China, and you have to earn that trust; don't have a strong ego. You can have vision, but don't assume you're the only one that can do this. Anything is possible, but nothing is easy.
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Grantmakers Without Borders, a philanthropic network, is dedicated to increasing funding for international social justice and environmental sustainability and to improving the practice of international grantmaking. Our membership, currently numbering some 325 individuals from roughly 150 grantmaking entities, includes private foundations, grantmaking public charities, individual donors with a significant commitment to philanthropy, and philanthropic support organizations. Availing of this wealth of experience and expertise, Grantmakers Without Borders provides capacity-building support to international grantmakers both novice and experienced. We offer a space for education, community and collaboration among international social change grantmakers. We advocate before policymakers on behalf of social change grantmakers, and we work to leverage the philanthropic sector to increase funding to the global South. In all our efforts, Grantmakers Without Borders is committed to the ideals of justice, equity, peace, democracy, and respect for the environment. We value and respect the wisdom and experience of local communities in all their diversity, and we are dedicated to amplifying the voice of the global South in international philanthropy. Founded in 2000, Grantmakers Without Borders is a project of the Tides Center.
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