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At a simple and crude campus in Changping District in the northwestern suburbs of Beijing， Yanjing Little Swan Charity School educates children of migrant workers. After being taken over by volunteers in December 2012， the school is now home to 480 children in 13 different classes.
Native Beijinger Yan Zhaoshi serves as the principal. He dreads the end of every semester because he inevitably loses a teacher or two. Yan’s decision to abandon the affluence afforded him by his former career as an aerospace engineer in favor of devoting himself to educating migrant children seems crazy to many.
In Need of Teachers
Such schools， which are usually scattered across semi-rural areas with high floating populations and low rent， provide education for migrant children who accompany their parents’ relocation to big cities. According to statistics from the Beijing Municipal Education Commission released in August 2011， of over 433，000 schoolaged migrant children living in Beijing， only 100，000 were enrolled in 114 different schools catering to them.
In 2010， when Yan Zhaoshi became a volunteer at Yanjing Primary School（which would eventually become Yanjing Little Swan Charity School）， he made the trip to the campus to teach only when he had spare time. “I was impressed by the kids’ reaction to my teaching of mathematics，” Yan recalls， mimicking their wideopen curious eyes.
Hailing from a family of many teachers， the more Yan Zhaoshi volunteered with the kids， the more motivated he felt to help with providing them comprehensive education. “In my opinion， school is a place for children to acquire knowledge， which happens through study and homework，” Yan asserts. “They may enjoy running around a playground all day， but what is going to happen when they grow up？”
Yan Zhaoshi took it on himself to recruit good teachers for these migrant children. “Textbooks， classrooms， and playgrounds are all secondary to a teacher who can convey knowledge to the kids，” he continues. “Teachers are the top necessity to run a school. These kids are too young to learn by themselves.”
I Can’t Afford to Give Up
“For me， it was like traveling，” Yan smiles， recalling his time as a volunteer.“You know you will spend a lot， but you enjoy yourself and look forward to the next trip.” At the very beginning of his volunteering， Yan quickly settled into the routine of teaching for an hour or so and then going home. Only after the former principal left did he make the surprising decision to take over the school. Although it would require him to abandon a decent salary and comfortable working environment， Yan’s decision was firm. “I just could not afford to give up on them.”
From volunteer teacher to volunteer headmaster， Yan Zhaoshi began reorganizing the school using cash out of his own pocket to rent a new building. Meanwhile，he continued teaching and stressing the importance of teachers to all of his colleagues and acquaintances.
“Now， we have 22 teachers， each with a junior college degree or better， working as a team to find solutions for the school and students，” Yan reveals proudly. While most teachers at other migrant children schools were earning monthly salaries of 1，000 yuan （about US$154）， Yan Zhaoshi raised his faculty’s salary to 3，000 yuan （about US$462） from 950 yuan （about US$146）， the rate he was receiving for volunteering. “He splurges on teachers， but is stingy about every other cost，” claims one teacher at the school. “Everyone here knows that.”As the school’s reputation grew， Yan managed to recruit even highly-qualified teachers with overseas experience and from renowned private schools.
Struggles of a Charity School
In the first year after the takeover， Yan Zhaoshi spent more than 150，000 yuan（US$24，000） of his own money to keep the school operating. Other than tuition， the school’s only other sources of revenue were a 1，000 yuan （US$153） donation and an 11，000 yuan （US$1，692） grant.
Thanks to media coverage， the school is now receiving more donations from the public. Although it usually makes ends meet， the school still frequently faces an embarrassing lack of funds due to so much waived tuition. To help povertystricken families， Yan Zhaoshi has exempted more than 100 students from paying tuition and boarding fees. Now， most of the 49 boarding students are also enjoying waived tuition.
Along with orphans or those from single-parent families， some other students begin boarding at the school because they live so far away. Yan Zhaoshi tries his best to provide accommodations for everyone in need， but still has to turn some away to keep the school afloat.
While the pressure of high costs and increasing needs from students turns Yan’s hair gray， many young teachers also face various challenges. One tried to resign after only a month， but chose to stay when Yan asked him， “If we all leave today， who can these kids count on tomorrow？”
Yan Zhaoshi renamed the school“Yanjing Little Swan Charity School” with expectations for the students. “I want my students to know they are beautiful swans rather than ugly ducklings. Despite their uphill battle， we will lead them to press on until they succeed.”
Native Beijinger Yan Zhaoshi serves as the principal. He dreads the end of every semester because he inevitably loses a teacher or two. Yan’s decision to abandon the affluence afforded him by his former career as an aerospace engineer in favor of devoting himself to educating migrant children seems crazy to many.
In Need of Teachers
Such schools， which are usually scattered across semi-rural areas with high floating populations and low rent， provide education for migrant children who accompany their parents’ relocation to big cities. According to statistics from the Beijing Municipal Education Commission released in August 2011， of over 433，000 schoolaged migrant children living in Beijing， only 100，000 were enrolled in 114 different schools catering to them.
In 2010， when Yan Zhaoshi became a volunteer at Yanjing Primary School（which would eventually become Yanjing Little Swan Charity School）， he made the trip to the campus to teach only when he had spare time. “I was impressed by the kids’ reaction to my teaching of mathematics，” Yan recalls， mimicking their wideopen curious eyes.
Hailing from a family of many teachers， the more Yan Zhaoshi volunteered with the kids， the more motivated he felt to help with providing them comprehensive education. “In my opinion， school is a place for children to acquire knowledge， which happens through study and homework，” Yan asserts. “They may enjoy running around a playground all day， but what is going to happen when they grow up？”
Yan Zhaoshi took it on himself to recruit good teachers for these migrant children. “Textbooks， classrooms， and playgrounds are all secondary to a teacher who can convey knowledge to the kids，” he continues. “Teachers are the top necessity to run a school. These kids are too young to learn by themselves.”
I Can’t Afford to Give Up
“For me， it was like traveling，” Yan smiles， recalling his time as a volunteer.“You know you will spend a lot， but you enjoy yourself and look forward to the next trip.” At the very beginning of his volunteering， Yan quickly settled into the routine of teaching for an hour or so and then going home. Only after the former principal left did he make the surprising decision to take over the school. Although it would require him to abandon a decent salary and comfortable working environment， Yan’s decision was firm. “I just could not afford to give up on them.”
From volunteer teacher to volunteer headmaster， Yan Zhaoshi began reorganizing the school using cash out of his own pocket to rent a new building. Meanwhile，he continued teaching and stressing the importance of teachers to all of his colleagues and acquaintances.
“Now， we have 22 teachers， each with a junior college degree or better， working as a team to find solutions for the school and students，” Yan reveals proudly. While most teachers at other migrant children schools were earning monthly salaries of 1，000 yuan （about US$154）， Yan Zhaoshi raised his faculty’s salary to 3，000 yuan （about US$462） from 950 yuan （about US$146）， the rate he was receiving for volunteering. “He splurges on teachers， but is stingy about every other cost，” claims one teacher at the school. “Everyone here knows that.”As the school’s reputation grew， Yan managed to recruit even highly-qualified teachers with overseas experience and from renowned private schools.
Struggles of a Charity School
In the first year after the takeover， Yan Zhaoshi spent more than 150，000 yuan（US$24，000） of his own money to keep the school operating. Other than tuition， the school’s only other sources of revenue were a 1，000 yuan （US$153） donation and an 11，000 yuan （US$1，692） grant.
Thanks to media coverage， the school is now receiving more donations from the public. Although it usually makes ends meet， the school still frequently faces an embarrassing lack of funds due to so much waived tuition. To help povertystricken families， Yan Zhaoshi has exempted more than 100 students from paying tuition and boarding fees. Now， most of the 49 boarding students are also enjoying waived tuition.
Along with orphans or those from single-parent families， some other students begin boarding at the school because they live so far away. Yan Zhaoshi tries his best to provide accommodations for everyone in need， but still has to turn some away to keep the school afloat.
While the pressure of high costs and increasing needs from students turns Yan’s hair gray， many young teachers also face various challenges. One tried to resign after only a month， but chose to stay when Yan asked him， “If we all leave today， who can these kids count on tomorrow？”
Yan Zhaoshi renamed the school“Yanjing Little Swan Charity School” with expectations for the students. “I want my students to know they are beautiful swans rather than ugly ducklings. Despite their uphill battle， we will lead them to press on until they succeed.”