Primary and ECE students at YCIS Shanghai Hongqiao Campus spent some time at the school’s annual Carnival Day this past Thursday, involved in games that challenged their physical skills, and activities that put their minds to the test. The carnival, held on the campus sports field, was organised as a charity fundraiser-initiative for Seeds of Hope, a YCIS charity that builds and supports schools in areas of need in China.

Upper Primary students were charged with the responsibility of creating and managing activities for younger students during the event, as a way to develop leadership skills and build self-confidence. All classes from Year 3 through Year 6 were responsible for designing a game and preparing a booth with supplies for their activity. Then, students took turns leading the activity and teaching the younger students how to participate. The young leaders particularly enjoyed having the opportunity to reward prizes for successful efforts!

Ms Jana van Zyl, a Character Education Co-ordinator at YCIS, and the organiser of this event, said that this activity for students was “a fun way for the students to learn and develop their leadership skills, while learning how their support and contributions to a charity can be such a huge help to those in need.” With over RMB 75,000 yuan raised on this year’s Carnival Day, YCIS students ensured that their contributions will go a long way towards supporting Seeds of Hope, and they had a great deal of fun in the process of “aligning with love and charity”, which is an important part of the YCIS motto.