Two Seng Girls say “good-bye” to Shenzhen after 6 months
Time certainly flies. After 6 months of doing vocational development in Captivating’s Shenzhen office, Kalsang Methok and Serr Tso say farewell to Shenzhen and this wonderful community. It has been such a pleasure having them here blending in with so many cultures. We will miss them too much. They arrived in Shenzhen just before the 3rd SGVTS Annual Charity Event October last year, and have remained with us since that time to learn computers, office administration and receive intensive Chinese tutoring. The plan is that they will now return to the Seng Girls Home and be responsible for coordinating the child sponsorship information for donors as well as ongoing updates on progress at the home. They will continue on with their schooling in the meantime as well as provide assistance to the computer class teacher up there (the room is being established this month). With the new skills they have learned we are confident this has opened many doors for future employment when they are ready to move in this direction.
Before coming here both girls did not know how to use a computer. Their progress has been AMAZING and they can now type, use email and MS Office software, upload photos and even do some video editing. Thanks to Google Translate, we can now also enjoy some interesting email exchanges. 
After work, they have learn’t to prepare and cook their own meals, shop for their own groceries within an approved budget, and have been learned how to record all their expenses and balance their cash and spending. Weekends have been spent studying and doing fun activities such as a recent 5hr bike ride with Rita (Captivating volunteer) around Shenzhen Bay.
We have had such a great time with them and now feel like two members of our family are leaving us. Serr Tso and Kalsang Methok – thankyou for being part of our lives in the Shenzhen community.
(pictured top: Girls going on their bike ride – they didn’t know how long this was going to be; Left: girls with their “brother” Tyler; Middle: girls are helping 5 other Seng Girls visiting from Guangzhou how to learn the computer; Right: Serr Tso having fun on a recent trip to the beach).
March 28, 2012
Seng Girls Visit Shenzhen
Last month five Seng Girls, who are currently receiving English Vocational Training in Guangzhou, took a train to Shenzhen for a 3 week visit. These five girls were picked to attend the English Vocational Training Program in Guangzhou because they scored the highest marks in English at the SGVTS. They have now entered their second year of training and have made enormous progress in perfecting the English language both oral and written. The purpose of the visit to Shenzhen was to immerse these girls in an English environment where they could practice what they’ve learned during their semester break.
The three weeks spent in Shenzhen were busy for these girls! In the mornings volunteer English teachers spent 2 ½ hours a day teaching these beautiful girls English. HUGE thanks to Veronica, Rita, Ryan and Bill for doing such as amazing job with these girls. They LOVED these morning sessions. After lunch they would attend computer lessons. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday’s they visited Quality International School (QSI) for more English training and also had the opportunity to help the QSI teachers prepare for their classes. Each day the girls would go shopping so they could prepare and cook their own meals. One of the goals of the 3 week stay was to improve their domestic skills and to help them get ready to raise themselves. Two days each week they would attend family dinners at Captivating International volunteer’s houses were they would speak English and play games (thanks Lynn & Gus, Kelsey & Brian, Rita & Con). The weekends were packed with many fun things for the visiting Seng girls. Kelsey, from QSI, prepared lots of games and crafts with girls, Tracy escorted the girls up Nanshan Mountain, Abby & Ron took the girls to a volleyball tournament, and Andrew and Julie prepared several nice walks and picnics.
During the time the Seng girls were in Shenzhen it was snowing back in Qinghai. The SGVTS is still experiencing the heart of winter which will last till the end of April. During the winter months at the SGVTS, when class is over, the girls play in the snow making snowman and having snowball fights. It doesn’t seem to matter who you are, or where you live, people all over the world do the same things in the snow!
We would like to give a big “Thank You” to King Way Garment Factory and JIA RUI Company for donating much needed jackets, blankets and cold weather clothing to the SGTVS. Due to their generous and thoughtful donation the 100 girls currently residing in Qinghai were able to stay warm during these cold winter months.
We at Captivating International want to thank all our volunteers and donors for their continuous support. We value this support tremendously; it is the fuel, along with the smiles from the Seng girls, that keeps us going!
(pictured: Seng Girls at Seaworld; Girls at SGVTS; Girls at with one of their English Teachers – Veronica; Helping QSI students; with snowman; Cooking at Kelsey’s home; At QSI; Receiving blankets from donor).
March 28, 2012
THANK YOU to our volunteer translators…
This month, we would like to say a big THANK YOU to all of our volunteer translators. This group of generous people have offered their time, skills and devotion to our projects by translating many many documents from Chinese to English.
The majority of the documents needing translation are annual child progress reports and family progress reports, which we receive from our on the ground field staff at the various locations around China. Once these reports are translated and proofed, they are sent to the sponsor(s) of each child and family, in order for them to receive an update on how they are progressing.
Over 400 progress reports will be translated this year and these volunteers give so many hours of their personal time to this. They are consistently so obliging in taking on this work and no job is ever too big for them. We can’t thank you enough for the huge contribution you make to being that bridge between our sponsors and children. So – Suji, Bobo, Becky, Jenny, Daisy, Angel, Kyle, Daniela, Emily, Anna and Lisa – a HUGE thankyou from us to you. We think your all amazing.
多谢! (Many Thanks)
(pictured: Our longest serving translators, Suji and Bobo).
February 17, 2012
The Seng Girls’ Home Backpack Project – Implemented by Shekou International School (SIS)
Last December each individual girl at the Seng Girls’ Training School and Home (SGVTS) received a backpack full of love. Included inside each backpack were new clothes, school supplies and toiletries. The SIS students started the project in September 2011. They had a goal to prepare backpacks for the 112 Seng girls who resided at the SGVTS. In order for the students to reach this goal the SIS Bayside students needed to raise US$5,750 in just a few weeks’ time and they could only do so outside of school time!
The students planned, organized and implemented their ideas to raise funds. Some of the community based activities they planed were: a carnival, a flash mob, socials, sports events, movie and game nights, babysitting services and bake sales. You won’t believe this but the students exceeded their goal and raised US$6,000!
SIS has built its relationship with the Seng Girls’ Training School and Home in various ways throughout the past few years. They have a donation box in their building and have sponsored a SGVTS child. Each year they are very involved in the annual charity auction held on behalf of the Seng girls by organizing fun activities for the Seng girls to do while visiting from Qinghai. SIS also provides transportation for the guests attending the SGVTS Annual Charity Auction.
What a huge challenge it was for the SIS Bayside students to meet their goal but they did it! Captivating International would like to thank each and every SIS student, parent and community member that helped to support their fundraising efforts. It is important to teach our youth the art of “Service Learning”. We thank SIS for their continuous effort in doing so as well as the many other schools and organizations locally and internationally that are instilling the value of helping others in our youth.
We would also like to thank Whalen Furniture Manufacturing Inc. for organizing and paying for the costs associated with transporting the backpacks to the girls’ home. Because of all our supporters we can help more and more girls, and let them to reach out for a better tomorrow.
(pictured: the SIS student leaders who worked tirelessly to direct and manage this wonderful project; SIS students collecting money; Qinghai Seng Girls receiving their individualized back-pack from SIS; excited girls checking out their surprise contents and personal gifts).
January 20, 2012
Fundraiser to help Qinghai girls – a Press Article by Shenzhen Daily
SOME 600 guests from Shenzhen’s expat community flocked to the Futian Shangri-la, Shenzhen to raise money to support the education and development of 120 impoverished girls in Qinghai.
Co-hosted by the Futian Shangri-la, Shenzhen and Captivating International, proceeds from the night went directly to support the work of LOVEQTRA, a Qinghai- registered charity/NPO, passionate about creating vibrant futures for poor girls from Qinghai and Sichuan provinces.
To help promote the fundraising effort, 24 girls from Qinghai traveled by train to perform traditional dance to captivate Shenzhen audiences including Shekou-based international schools, SIS and QSI, proud supporters of the project.
Andrew Colquhoun, co-founder and CEO of Captivating International — a Hong Kong-registered charity, stated, “This is our third year partnering with LOVEQTRA on this project. Each year we continue to be overwhelmed by the growing support offered by Shenzhen residents.”
“A small sacrifice on our part creates a world of possibilities for them. Knowing that you have helped them move from difficult circumstances to being part of a good program focused on giving them a chance at a better life — that’s priceless,” he said.
Captivating International has been collaborating with the Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen for over two years. It works to match foreign donors with quality Chinese initiatives focused on reducing family poverty and helping disadvantaged children improve their lives. (Maggie Tang)
January 19, 2012
Seng Girls Home-Shekou International School’s (SIS) Winter Bazaar
Shekou International School’s Winter Bazaar is an important annual event, it provides significant help to communities in need. It was held at December 10th, 2012 at the mountainside of Jinshan Villas in Shekou, Shenzhen, China.
It was a beautiful, sunny, winter day. The bazaar showcased delicious foods from around the world. There were home-made goodies from over fifteen countries. Many merchants and local individuals displayed and sold items. Each year this bizarre is famous in Shekou and draws many attendees because of the great selection of food and items for sale.
We thank SIS for providing us an opportunity to sell our newly published English and Chinese bilingual cookbook titled “Our International Kitchen”. Our gorgeous staff, Tracy and Rita sold 12 in 4 hours.
When the bazaar ended a very impressive thing happened. We received a donation of 2,110 RMB from Genius Progress Ltd., This very generous merchant decided to donate all the proceeds raised from the products they sold at the Winter Bazaar to the Seng Girls. Thank you Genius Progress for you donation and willingness to help others! Once again another perfect example of how supportive and wonderful our Shenzhen community is.
December 19, 2011
Futian Shangri-La charity race supporting Seng Girls Home
PRESS RELEASE: FUTIAN Shangri-La, Shenzhen brought the international sport of stair climbing to Shenzhen once again with its second vertical charity race Saturday. Designed to encourage getting exercise, the event raised funds to provide educational support to impoverished students in Captivating International’s Seng Girls’ Vocational Training School and Home (SGVTS). Participants experienced a test of endurance, strength and mental fortitude — climbing from the hotel lobby to the summit, making the race a total vertical distance of 191 meters or 440 steps. A party on the terrace of the Chairman’s Room on level 40 followed the climb. There was a brunch reception, live entertainment and a lucky draw with Shenzhen’s skyline as the backdrop. In line with the hotel’s mission of giving back to the community, 100% of participant entry fees went to Captivating’ s SGVTS program – a school and vocational training site that cares for more than 120 girls and a place of safety that provides refuge for girls rescued from extremely disadvantaged circumstances. The home is located in the southern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China and was established in 2005 to allow girls from “at risk” circumstances to be given the chance to change their lives. The hotel aims to organize the vertical race annually, with charity supporters and fitness enthusiasts returning to take part and beat previous times. For more details, e-mail flying.zhang@shangri-la.com.
December 14, 2011
Being a Captivating Volunteer – an article by Angela Kowalski
I first learned about the Seng Girls’ Home in 2009 when my good friend Lynn Velez told me she was working with our friends Julie and Andrew Colquhoun from Captivating and planning a charity auction to benefit the home. I was taken by how the home got started. A man (Dockpo) and his family had opened their home to these disadvantaged young girls in Qinghai Province and ensured they were safe and cared for. I could not imagine parenting this large family – then about 30 girls. It seemed pretty clear that Dockpo and the home could use some financial support to provide for the girls’ basic needs and their education. I felt compelled to help! My husband Scott agreed and the Seng Girls have been a part of our lives ever since.
When I joined the charity auction team I had no idea how enriched my life would become. I have met and interacted with so many wonderful people – old friends and new friends. Their talents, ideas and resources have helped the auction blossom into an amazing event. I have overcome my discomfort in asking individuals and businesses for donations and I am continuously overwhelmed with the generosity of our donors. Additionally, I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet some of the Seng girls – they are charming, beautiful, hard-working, motivated individuals. All we are doing to support these young women will be rewarded. I look forward to their future accomplishments.
In the two years since that memorable first charity auction at Aulon Wine Bar, the number of Seng girls has grown to 120 and our community’s support has expanded with the need for more resources at the home. It’s awesome!
As we planned the 2nd and 3rd Annual Charity Auctions at the Futian Shangri-La Hotel, it became clear that we would need the help of many volunteers to ensure the success of the events. The artistic, organizational, logistical and detail oriented talents of many individuals are needed to make this event happen. It was great to see so many new volunteers helping at the 3rd Annual Charity Auction! These women and men did a brilliant job and ensured everything went smoothly. Going forward the auction team will need our continued support. I encourage you to volunteer! Let the Seng Girls touch your heart as they have touched mine.
