Give back this Christmas with these volunteering opportunities

Whatever cause you're interested in, there's a way to help in Beijing

Whether you have a cause you're passionate about, are looking to make new friends or just want to join a puppy cuddle puddle, there are tonnes of reasons to get involved with a volunteer project in Beijing. Start with these worthy causes. Illustrations by Jinna Kaneko.

Women and girls

'In some parts of China where old traditions are still very strong, rural girls are one of the least likely groups to have access to education,' says Educating Girls of Rural China (EGRC) development director, Sally Liang. Targeting China’s western provinces, the group provides mentorship and financial sponsorships for girls to attend high school and college, and has already helped nearly 400 young women graduate from university. Currently the group is looking for volunteers to help research and apply for grants, and to put together social media content.

Email [e-mail] for more.

Operating from inside Houhai courtyard space Crossroads Centre, China Women’s Film Festival hosts panels, film screenings and art exhibitions to raise awareness for women's rights and LGBT rights in China. The not-for-profit centre is currently looking for volunteers to help organise events with topics like safe-sex awareness in China and the elimination of domestic violence (which affects at least one in four married women in the country, according to state reports). The group also takes on volunteers every autumn to help organise and run its awesome flagship film festival event.

Email [e-mail] for more.

LGBY advocacy

For nearly a decade, the Beijing LGBT Center has been offering free mental health and legal services, HIV testing and educational programmes in Beijing. The centre regularly recruits volunteers and interns to help with the day-to-day running of the community space, event planning, marketing and working the organisation’s hotline.

Email [e-mail] for more.

The Beijing Gender Health Education Institute (BGHEI) supports the local LGBT community with educational programmes, public events and campaigns, including the yearly China AIDS Walk and the China Rainbow Awards, as well as its web series Queer Comrades, an entertaining LGBT webcast that’s received more than 20 million views. The group is looking for volunteers to help with social media and graphic design.

Email [e-mail] for more.

Children

China Magic Hospital runs play sessions for sick and orphaned children and victims of abuse. Partnering with paediatric hospitals and shelters across Beijing, volunteers run sessions that include arts and crafts, games, storytime and English lessons.

Email [e-mail] for more.

The Migrant Children’s Foundation (MCF) is a UK-registered non-profit that helps disadvantaged kids throughout China. The foundation is looking for volunteers in under-resourced schools in Beijing, to help run extracurriculars like coaching sports, teaching musical instruments running arts classes.

Email [e-mail] for more.

The Love & Hope Center is also devoted to helping migrant women and children, and is looking for volunteers to help with initiatives including music and English classes, as well as administrative tasks.

Email [e-mail] for more.

Animal welfare

International Center for Veterinary Services (ICVS) is looking for volunteers to help with general administrative tasks, to photograph adoptable pets, assist medical staff as needed and socialise with puppies and kittens. The centre is particularly in need of social media-savvy individuals who can design pet adoption ads to help find their rescues perfect forever homes.

Email [e-mail] for more.

A branch of the Jane Goodall Institute, Roots and Shoots China welcomes volunteers with a passion for or training in the fields of animal behaviour or environmental work to help with its many initiatives, including caring for companion animals to helping protect migrating bird or shark populations. With dozens of initiatives, the group is likely to have something for every kind of animal enthusiast out there.

Email [e-mail] for more.

The environment

Friends of Nature, China’s oldest environmental NGO, organises campaigns to promote a more sustainable China. Volunteer projects include tackling garbage management, organising trash pick- ups, field trips for school kids and more.

Email [e-mail] for more.

In addition to selling products that help Beijingers live a zero-waste lifestyle, The Bulk House is looking for volunteers to help run its free community swap events and workshops, which in the past have included sewing classes that save worn-out clothes from entering landfills.

Email [e-mail] for more.

For more things to do this holiday season, hit '阅读原文'.

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