Last night, we went to Rock For Schools, a night of charitable drinking and dancing held at Durty Nellie’s Beijing’s premier Hong Kongese-owned Irish pub.

The party was a fund raiser for the Xin Xin School, a primary school for the children of migrant workers in the northern edge of Beijing. As is widely known, China maintains a strict policy of fixed residence, and migrating for work is still technically illegal. Practically, of course, the system is much looser, and everyday people leave their officially-registered homes seeking a better life. The law looks the other way, because China’s economy demands cheap labor, but migrant workers remain extremely vulnerable. They and their families have much less access to education and government services, and virtually no recourse against bosses who mistreat or underpay them, because, technically, they are breaking the law by having moved to the city in the first place.

Schools like Xin Xin are informal attempts to provide for the millions of people who fall into the gulf between policy and reality in New China. Last night, the goal was to raise enough money to allow the school to add an additional three grades (7,8,9) so that the oldest students can continue their education.

Music was provided by Phonograph, by FAR Beijing’s greatest classic rock band.

They killed it.

The event itself was organized by my father James, so one more reason to big it up…

No word yet on if they raised the ¥30,000 necessary for the expansion, but if you’re interested in helping, please write to:
James McGetrick
xinxin.appeal@gmail.com
or
Compassion for Migrant Children
T:86-10-64656100
E: info@cmc-china.org

posted by Brendan at 9:06 pm | filed under off topic | No Comments »