Stepping Stones

Stepping Stones

Stepping Stones runs programmes to improve the education and general welfare of children in China, with a particular focus on migrant children in Shanghai.

Stepping Stones was founded in 2006 to organise volunteers to teach English in migrant schools, in response to requests from the schools’ principals. It continues to run its volunteer programmes, to teach the children English in migrant schools and migrant centres across Shanghai. English is one of the core subjects in the Chinese curriculum. Migrant children often do not have access to a good quality education and the level of English is the biggest differentiator between rural and urban Chinese children, and this perpetuates the gap in educational and employment opportunities.  Another of Stepping Stones’s programmes offers after school tuition, and local high school students can join as volunteers and tutor migrant children, helping them with their English homework. Stepping Stones also runs a summer programme in Shanghai and, throughout the year, it arranges weekend visits for volunteers to teach English in rural communities in other provinces. Another of Stepping Stones’s projects is called “I-Care” and this provides migrant children with free eye tests, treatment, and, if needed, simple operations, and/or glasses. Without this project, the children would not have access to these services.

CHW’s supporters have been sponsoring the teaching materials needed for one of Stepping Stones’ educational programmes since the beginning of 2015. Stepping Stones has asked us for further support with this for the coming school year. We are trying to raise £797.00 to fund the teaching materials for the next semester.