Connecting people in a worldof need

Online inspiration during Covid-19

“War, poverty, refugees, modern-day slavery. Many people look at global issues, and long to see change occur. But can one person’s life really make a difference? Yes!”
David Begbie, Director of Crossroads’ Global X-perience

It was a mighty goal: running a full-day conference for 180 students and staff at a large international school in Beijing, with workshops, talks from international experts and complex discussions. Crossroads’ Global X-perience team was planning to travel and be there in person, until Covid hit and the entire event changed course to an online conference.

Our team worked closely with teachers to deliver the conference with interactive elements across the day. Spokesman David Begbie addressed the whole school (pictured above), as well as doing a live Q&A, and they showed personalised video talks from speakers like former child soldier David Livingstone and peace campaigner and author Zak Ebrahim. The students and teachers workshopped together on ways that they could engage with these urgent issues.

“Students were captivated by the speakers, participated with lots of passion during the discussion portion and had some great questions during the Q&A,” said the coordinating teacher. She said that the students are now fired up and keen to take action, ready to incorporate what they’ve learnt into their major projects for the year.

During Covid, schools had to pivot to new and uncharted was of learning.

Video resources

We’ve also prepared a range of videos on issues of poverty, which you can use freely in classrooms here:

How has Covid-19 impacted orphans, refugees and children at risk around the world?

How is Covid-19 affecting fair trade producers?

How is COVID-19 affecting people in poverty?

The challenge of water access around the world

For younger children, we’ve taken our Silk Road Storytime sessions online! You are welcome to use the videos at the links below, which include stories and crafts that encourage preschoolers to be empathetic global citizens:

Crossroads Silk Road Storytime – The Magic Paintbrush

Crossroads Silk Road Storytime – Biblioburro

Crossroads Silk Road Storytime – Circles of Hope

Crossroads Silk Road Story Time – One Hen

Crossroads Silk Road Story Time: The Colour of Home

Crossroads Silk Road Story Time – The Snail and the Whale

Want to talk further?

Start the conversation about how we can help your school connect with a world in need. Email globalx@crossroads.org.hk

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A Taste of Inequality

140 students from Diocesan Girls’ School had a taste of inequality when they did our ‘Some, Tonnes, None’ simulation in 2018. Along with many other Hong Kong schools, DGS makes Crossroads a regular fixture on their school calendar, as part of their curriculum unit of growing global citizens. One little girl, who was given an empty plate, remembered how it felt to see a classmate in her group holding a plate piled high with food.

“Now I think of those people who lack resources and keep struggling for a basic living,” she said afterwards. “It is really sad to know that there are many people who are still suffering chronic hunger.”

The parents of students who do this programme have told us they talk about it for months: face to face with a planet where 20% of the people live on 80% of world resources and vice versa.

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School Students: Empathy Film Festival

“But what can I do at school to help others care?” We’re often asked this by students who undertake our x-periences, come out with deepened empathy and want to to see it translated into action at their schools. It’s a conversation we love to have. Meena, in Beijing, is one who called, this year and spoke with our Global X-perience director on this very point. She came up with a remarkable idea. She would hold an ‘Empathy Film Festival’ at school.

It was difficult at first, though, and Meena quickly discovered that the path to world change isn’t always easy.

“There were so many times I thought my idea was dead — that maybe I should just give up,” she told us. “But the inspiration and the ideas we shared were too good to just let go. Slowly I was able to find other students and teachers who believed it was a good idea too.”

The end result of her perseverance? A communal 24 hour fast, to build empathy for the hungry, followed by an outdoor film festival showing films dealing with issues of world need, and US$2,000 raised to help the poor. We’re so proud of Meena for fanning the spark of an idea into flame, and passing that flame of compassion on to others!

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Six year old Hannah from Hong Kong proved you’re never too young to make a difference. After hearing about the plight of Syrian refugee children, Hannah decided she did not want gifts for her birthday. Instead, she asked the guests at her party to donate help for Syrian refugees. She raised HK$3,300. Each of the kids who gave also sent their photo and a note of support which Crossroads included in packages of clothes and toys that were distributed to kids in refugee camps.

Little campaigners can make a mighty difference.

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