dinner clubPosted by Mark Wednesday, November 25 2009 22:54:21Thanks to everyone who came out on Nov 22 for some hearty and filling dishes from Lanzhou at the Lanzhou Hotel, tucked away in the northwest of Beijing, but affordable and great for noodles. Through the evening we raised RMB1620 (and RMB600 in stationery sales) for Madaifu - which helps more than 100 children in Tianshui, Gansu. Thanks to the NGO's representative Anne Dekermadec for sharing some moving stories about the children, their families, and the challenging conditions in this remote part of China. Madaifu is an offshoot of the renowned NGO Medecins Sans Frontiers. If folks are interested in helping out or donating children's toys and books, please feel free to contact Anne via above website - also take a look at the attractive Madaifu stationery and cards available. Thanks again and we look forward to seeing you all again at our next dinner on December 5.
dinner clubPosted by Mark Wednesday, November 25 2009 22:45:03The Yunteng Hotel (Yunnan Provincial Gov't office) just inside the second ring road
is where we ate and met with One Plus One, an NGO created an
run entirely by people with disabilities. OPO's radio station is the country's first radio production center staffed by disabled journalists. And, they have set up the country's first online radio site. Blind since 12, our special guest Jin Ling talked about the employment chances for the blind in China, and her upcoming study program with Braille Without Borders, in India. We collected RMB1035 to support Jin Ling and her efforts.
dinner clubPosted by Mark Wednesday, November 25 2009 22:36:50Thanks for those who came to the hearty restaurant 东北人 Dongbei Ren
on Dongzhimenwai Xinzhongjie to hear Li Tao, the founder of one of China's most interesting NGOs, Beijing-based Culture and Communications Center for Facilitators (CCCF) talk to us about educating migrant workers on their rights. The CCCF is trying to put together a mobile library for migrant workers and will hold a
collection at the end of the month. So if you have old magazines and
newspapers to give, here's a chance to put them to good use! We donated RMB1,100 towards CCCF's work. Attendees also went home with fresh Crazy Bake bread, now available at all our dinners.
dinner clubPosted by Mark Saturday, October 31 2009 21:43:46
Thanks to those who came out to the Niu Jie mosque area for some tasty dishes from Turpan, Xinjiang. Most of all, thanks to everyone for their generous support of Crazy Bake. About two years ago, we had invited Yvonne from Crazy Bake to speak to us about the patients at the mental institution east of Beijing. Now, she and her team have managed to grow and sustain their operation with weekly deliveries of fresh-baked bread, bagels, and pretzels. More support is needed though as the number of patients expand and they explore ways to help the patients interact with the outside world. We donated RMB2,000 and sold 20 loaves on the night.
dinner clubPosted by Mark Saturday, October 31 2009 21:30:58
Saturday September 5 we heard Erika Helms, who runs the Beijing office of the Jane Goodall Institute, talk about rolling the organisation's Roots & Shoots programme into schools and campuses accross China. This while eating Hui cuisine from the hilly, southeasterly province of Anhui at the spacious and earthy FuBoJu Jiulou on Hepingli Dongjie. We raised RMB1600 to help them continue their work in educating Chinese youth about the environment.
dinner clubPosted by Mark Saturday, October 31 2009 21:02:01
dinner clubPosted by Mark Wednesday, September 16 2009 00:15:45It took a while but it's here...receipt that Love North Korean Children received our RMB1000 donation from dinner at Sichuan #6 in 798. Thanks again for everyone who came out and had a wondefully spicy evening!
dinner clubPosted by Mark Wednesday, August 12 2009 00:09:12Thanks all of you who came out Saturday night to hear three great speakers and volunteers of the Beijing-based NGO for people with learning disabilities: Hui Ling.
We heard how this Chinese NGO, the first in its field to be licensed by government, is more transparent than larger counterparts, making donations like our RMB2,175 very traceable and well-used.
Well done to Holly and Ann for finding a great restaurant, the art-themed and affordable Lao Nong Tang behind Scitech Hotel in Jianguomen. Check it out if you like the sweet and subtle flavours of Shanghai. More importantly check out Hui Ling's website:
www.huiling.org
