The ultimate joy in life comes from giving and growing. Philanthropy offers both.
——David Rockefeller
More and more young people are changing the world that we live. In 2014, Malala Yousafzai became the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize at age 17 for her advocacy for girls’ education in Pakistan.
In 2018, Bojan Slater, a 24-year-old, led a research team over the course of six years to design a system that cleans up pollution in the ocean.
Even at Hiba, we are seeing thoughtful, dedicated young adults taking steps to help make the world and their communities a better place.
Charity comes in a lot of forms. We can donate money, materials, our time or our hard work, and when we engage in charity, it is a rewarding experience. There is the immediate emotional reward of knowing that we have helped improve the lives of others. But there are longer-term benefits as well. Charitable work pays off in huge dividends.
▲Hiba Pupils conducting community service
From planning a project to fundraising to donating, pupils are involved in every step of the entire process at Hiba. They have the opportunity to help make the world a better place, while at the same time, they learn leadership, teamwork, problem-solving and organisational skills. They also cultivate empathy and emotional intelligence. All of these are invaluable skills for success and fulfilment in life.
In 2019, Hiba Academy Shanghai founded Shanghai United Foundation ‘Friends of Hiba’ Charity Fund. This is the first donor-advised fund (DAF) created by the Hiba School and its parents.
▲Hiba school won top ten school charity award
of the year in the 2021 'Charity of Shanghai'
Over the past two years, the school’s charitable projects have been taken to new levels. At present, we have four projects in the works: our Hiba Organic Farm, the Special Olympics United School, "From the Mountain" and the Loutang Migrant Children Support programme.
These four projects created four ‘firsts’ for our pupils: the first Junior High student social enterprise — Hiba Organic Farm; the first public performance combining Chinese and Western heritages; the first support report for disadvantaged children; and an art exhibition created by children with disabilities.
▲Hiba Pupils paying a field visit to organic farm
In our next article in this series, we will share in greater detail the truly excellent charitable work our Hiba pupils and parents are doing. Stay tuned!
