iloblog 1.0http://community.markgodfrey.eu/There&#x92;s a few community efforts with which I&#x92;m associated and try to build on. The Tuanjiehu English language club. Every Saturday we meet in Chaoyang Library for a few hours to teach and talk. There&#x92;s four teachers and, usually, about 100 students. We&#x92;re increasing the numbers of teachers. It&#x92;s a highlight of my weekend, talking with Chinese of all ages who have lived through, and are living through, tumultuous times in the country&#x92;s history. If you're interested in helping out let me know.<br/> <br/>Saturday nights we sample some of China &#x92;s many provincial cuisines with friends old and new, local and visiting, and at the end of the night everyone put a donation into the hat for a selected charity. So far we have assisted Jinde Charities which funds the education of impoverished families in Hebei province; and the Chinese Reading Project which is creating libraries in disadvantaged rural communities.<br/> <br/>The pens programme: I encourage friends to pick up pens and any kind of stationery which can be used by school kids. Several batches have already been sent up, with Koryo Tours, a Beijing based travel company permitted to take foreigners to North Korea . The needs of school children whom I&#x92;ve visited in the country are vast &#x96; I remember kids using their thumbs to rub out errors in their copybooks &#x96; so whatever your politics are gather up those pens, pencils, jotters, notepads lying around unused and unwanted and we&#x92;ll get them a good home.<br/><br/>http://iloapp.markgodfrey.eu/blog/community?Home&post=34 Thanks to everyone who came out on Nov 22 for some hearty and filling dishes...Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:54:21 +1200dinner clubhttp://iloapp.markgodfrey.eu/blog/community?Home&post=33 The Yunteng Hotel (Yunnan Provincial Gov't office) just inside the second...Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:45:03 +1200dinner clubhttp://iloapp.markgodfrey.eu/blog/community?Home&post=32 Thanks for those who came to the hearty restaurant 东北人 Dongbei Ren on...Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:36:50 +1200dinner clubhttp://iloapp.markgodfrey.eu/blog/community?Home&post=31 Thanks to those who came out to the Niu Jie mosque area for some tasty...Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:43:46 +1200dinner clubhttp://iloapp.markgodfrey.eu/blog/community?Home&post=30 Saturday September 5 we heard Erika Helms, who runs the Beijing office...Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:30:58 +1200dinner clubhttp://iloapp.markgodfrey.eu/blog/community?Home&post=29 Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:02:01 +1200dinner clubhttp://iloapp.markgodfrey.eu/blog/community?Home&post=28 It took a while but it's here...receipt that Love North Korean Children...Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:15:45 +1300dinner clubhttp://iloapp.markgodfrey.eu/blog/community?Home&post=27 Thanks all of you who came out Saturday night to hear three great speakers...Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:09:12 +1300dinner clubhttp://iloapp.markgodfrey.eu/blog/community?Home&post=26 Thanks to everyone who made it to Xizhimen for our dinner with FairField ,...Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:29:59 +1300dinner clubhttp://iloapp.markgodfrey.eu/blog/community?Home&post=25 Thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday night (june 20) for dinner at No...Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:39:52 +1300dinner club