People Squared is a shared studio for creative talents in Shanghai. Desks are available for rent by the day/week/month, and events are regularly held for networking and for fun. We caught up with E-learning consultant Ross Cranwell, who uses the space, to find out more about the creative ... Read More
We spoke with Stepping Stones volunteer Cara Canzler about giving migrant kids the gift of knowledge.
Tell us about Stepping Stones.
It’s a charity that does volunteer English teaching at migrant schools around Shanghai. We have teams at 16 different schools.
What role do you play?
I have been ... Read More
We caught up with Rebecca Zistel from the Expatriate Professional Women's Society (EPWS) to find out a little bit more about the not-for-profit club. We found out that it's a woman's world out there.
What is the Expatriate Professional Women’s Society?
It’s a networking organization ... Read More
Lifeline Shanghai's counseling supervisor Trine Pless-Rasmussen is from Germany and is in Shanghai getting her Master's degree in counseling. We chat with her about lending an ear to expats in need.
What is Lifeline? It’s an international nonprofit hotline that exists in 22 countries and has been ... Read More
If you're a vegetarian in Shanghai, you'll know how difficult it is to steer clear of the animal products. We caught up with Ignatius Lau of the Shanghai Vegetarians Club to find out a bit more about his life as a vegetarian in China.
How long have you ... Read More
Feel like giving back to the community, but never have the time? BEAN makes it easy with their fun charity events happening around Shanghai. We caught up with BEAN Projects Director Albert Chang to find out how he got involved and what events they've got coming up over the ... Read More
The Holiday season is here and now is the time to give back to the community. We caught up with the Giving Tree’s marcom manager Leigh Cooledge to find out more about the program and how we can help deliver some joy to those in need.
What is The ... Read More
Every Sunday, those with a passion for the stage meet to participate in the East West Theatre Group's workshops. The collaboration aims to bridge Western theater with the Shanghai arts and culture community. We caught up with workshopper Michael Jones to find out more about the group and what ... Read More
So what is Rotaract?
It’s an association of young professionals and university students, all between the ages of 18 and 30. It’s for both professional development networking and community service.
And how did you get involved?
I was a member of Rotaract in Canada at my university, and ... Read More
Back to School
"Learning Center" sounds like "school." Is that what you see this as? Definitely. I always saw it as a school. The thing is, most of our students haven't been to school in decades, so it's more of a "back-to-school" feeling. Why focus on expats? It ... Read More
Teddy Bear Care
What does Heart to Heart do? We are a group of Shanghai volunteers who aid disadvantaged Chinese children in need of open heart surgery. We do this by facilitating play sessions, collecting and distributing clothing, toiletries and toys to the children and their communities. What makes a ... Read More
Charitable Easels
What motivated you to create Art for the Heart? I've been in and out of China for twenty years, and this feels like a way to give something back. Also, when I was 23 months old, I had open heart surgery, so when the Xin Tu Community ... Read More
Christy Lin | YANA Shanghai Treasure Hunt
Why start a treasure hunt in Shanghai? To discover the real Shanghai, to let the players discover the hidden parts of Shanghai and to see the city in a whole new light. To experience real Shanghai culture, art and people, to build up team ... Read More
Socially Responsible
How developed is the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Shanghai? There was good progress in the promotion of CSR practices in China in 2007. New legislation designed to protect workers' rights was passed, and the country's first law was drafted on the "circular economy," China ... Read More
Guanxi, Baby
What does "FC" stand for? In the beginning, it stood for "fortune cookie," but not everybody had an overseas background and we had to explain what a "fortune cookie" was, so we decided to change it to "fortune connection." Do you think that networking plays a big part ... Read More
Picking Up the Pen
You're one of the group's organizers. Have you always written? Yes ... well, I guess so. I've always needed a story to accompany my comic art, so yes, I have been writing since I was little. Is it a hobby or a profession for ... Read More
Do Unto Others
How did you start fostering kittens? I actually just started rescuing a lot of cats when I first got here. But then I realized I really needed to have funding to help take care of the animals I'd found. I found out about the SCAA in ... Read More
Learning Experience
Tell us a bit about Roots & Shoots' Poverty Alleviation Program in Anhui. Through a R&S school in Anhui we got connected to a primary school up in the mountains in Yangshan Village. We go there every summer to give them supplies and run a summer school. How ... Read More
Caribbeana 101
The CAC is a fairly young organization. We just recently had our anniversary celebration. Originally our intent was to provide a support network for Caribbean nationals living in Shanghai. A side idea was to support charitable associations. But the focus has become charity instead of networking? We still ... Read More
Step by Step
Where did the idea for NextStep come from? About a year ago myself and a group of friends realized that we didn't know enough entrepreneurs. We felt there was a real need for a social event that could bring people together. Do you feel like you ... Read More
Past Passions
Tell me about Historic Shanghai. Where shall I start? When we arrived in Shanghai in 1997, we were surprised by what we saw. Meaning? The look of the city is quite unusual, and when we started asking questions, we found there was no information. There was no historic ... Read More
Moscow-ed
How long has the Russian Club been around? We're actually celebrating our tenth anniversary this year. Congratulations! Do you have anything special planned? Of course, we're planning a large celebration and members of Russian communities from all over China and other Asian countries are coming to Shanghai ... Read More
Tour de Community
What, in your opinion, is the best way to give back to the local community? Involve yourself in something that you are passionate about-children, the environment, whatever. So getting involved is one of the keys to a successful stay in Shanghai then? Getting connected to the community ... Read More
Going Coucou
What can you tell us about Coucou Quebecois? There was a demand for a get together among Quebec people and I thought, I’m French-Canadian, and the nature of my job at the Canada China Business Council is to organize social events. So this is a CCBC event ... Read More
Social Schnitzels
Tell us about the German Club. The German Club Shanghai is a non-profit association concentrating on German families (we have about 350-400 member families). Mainly women take part in our daytime events but we also offer some events in the evening and during weekends. Any big events planned ... Read More