Dandelion School
-- Created by sheilaz413

The Dandelion School is a middle school devoted to the better education of children from some of Beijing's migrant families. Located in Beijing's southern suburbs, the school was established in 2005. Its aim to provide a healthy and happy environment for its students to live and grow. At the Dandelion School, the children are provided with housing, food, and the attention and care that they deserve, allowing them to be free from their otherwise daily pressures of survival.

This was also the first real "story" that I covered.

14 photos

Photos are from
30 Jul 06.

Selling

Students of the Dandelion School man a clothe booth during the school's Biz Camp.

Mastermind

Professor Hong Zheng, the mastermind behind the Dandelion School. A former professor and a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School, Professor Hong conceived of the idea behind the Dandelion School in April 2005 and was able to open the school later the same year.

Dance 2

During a free period, students at the Dandelion Middle School practice a choreographed dance. The Dandelion School, located in Beijing's southern suburbs, was established in 2005. The school's mission is to provide a healthy, happy, and enriching environment for some of the children of Beijing's migrant workers.

Smile

A young Dandelion School student steals a smile at the beginning of art class.

Student and Teacher

A Dandelion School student and her young teacher sits for a photo. I usually don't like very posed shots, but in this, I like the frank expressions on their faces.

Maggie

An English name sign for a Dandelion School student rests in an empty school room. When I took this shot, it was noon time and the students were on their break. The school was holding its second annual English camp, introducing to over 100 kids from Beijing's migrant families the world of English.

Suave

A young Dandelion School boy, wet from just cooling himself down, acts suave and poses for a shot.

Music lesson

Two Dandelion School boys watch as their young volunteer teacher demonstrates the finer art of guitar playing. The Dandelion School, located in Beijing's southern suburbs, was established in 2005. The school's mission is to provide a healthy, happy, and enriching environment for some of the children of Beijing's migrant workers.

Dance 1

During a free period, students at the Dandelion Middle School practice a choreographed dance. The Dandelion School, located in Beijing's southern suburbs, was established in 2005. The school's mission is to provide a healthy, happy, and enriching environment for some of the children of Beijing's migrant workers.

Studying

A student dilligently works on an assignment during class. The Dandelion School, located in Beijing's southern suburbs, was established in 2005. The school's mission is to provide a healthy, happy, and enriching environment for some of the children of Beijing's migrant workers.

Cooling Down

A Dandelion Middle School student fans herself during the school's BizCamp clothe drive. The students set up stands in front of their school and sold donated clothes to the local community. The students were responsible for selling and organizing the clothes as well as taking care of the finances. The proceeds will go to maintain the school, whose aim is to provide a healthy and enriching learning environment to the children of some of Beijing's migrant workers.

Chores

Students from the Dandelion School and a young volunteer wash their own dishes after lunch. The Dandelion School, located in Beijing's southern suburbs, was established in 2005. The school's mission is to provide a healthy, happy, and enriching environment for some of the children of Beijing's migrant workers. One of the values the school preaches is self efficiency. To practice that, the students are responsible for their own personal chores, which includes dish washing, laundry, etc.

Studious

A student listens attentively to a teacher during an art class at the Dandelion School's summer English camp. The Dandelion School, located in Beijing's southern suburbs, was established in 2005. The school's mission is to provide a healthy, happy, and enriching environment for some of the children of Beijing's migrant workers.

Dandelion student

A Dandelion School student poses in between class. The Dandelion School, located in Beijing's southern suburbs, was established in 2005. The school's mission is to provide a healthy, happy, and enriching environment for some of the children of Beijing's migrant workers.