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BiMBA’s Charity Bright Line Project Lights Up Lhatse

Oct 27-2014   



9 years ago, ideals brought together a group of young people. They agreed that for ten days of each year, they would travel to underprivileged areas in China to carry out surgery and restore the vision of cataracts sufferers. With the help of this volunteer team, over 1,000 patients have regained their vision. 

From its establishment in 2006 to today, this non-governmental charitable organization has had an ethos of: “bringing the best medical technology and equipment to the underprivileged in remote mountainous regions to that they receive the best treatment.” It is committed to treating cataracts patients in impoverished regions.

As the “Charity Bright Line” host, The National School of Development (“NSD”) BiMBA has strongly supported the project. As BiMBA’s host organization, Peking University’s NSD has also been deeply involved in the project. NSD professor Hu Dayuan and other teachers have participated, not only in organizing and bearing project costs, but also becoming volunteers on the project. The project’s figurehead, Mr. Zhang Xingru is an outstanding alumnus of BiMBA and a leading figure in Shanghai’s ophthalmology field. The project has not only exhibited Peking University’s social responsibility and but also showed its exceptional organization and innovation in the charity model.  

On the 29 August, 60 volunteers from across the country gathered in Lhasa and, after acclimatizing, continued on their journey on the 31 August. As there were speed limits on Tibet’s highways, the larger team took a coach whilst Zhang Xingru took the smaller team visiting the school for the blind via train.

Volunteer Zheng Ting, part of the school for the blind project, arrived a day early to Shigatse and made preparations so that once the doctors arrived they could start on the screenings. Three students were taken to Lhatse County for the eye operation. Charity Bright Line gave the whole school brand new jackets and the students from the school performed very moving traditional Tibetan songs and dances.

At the same time, the larger team was still on the coach, at 3pm they had still not eaten lunch. In the evening, both teams made it to Lhatse and, without a moment’s rest, met to prepare. Each project’s work was split into seven or eight subgroups – the volunteers only had 10 days, so they had to make sure everything was well-prepared. 

On the afternoon of 1 September, hundreds of Tibetans, old and young, gathered outside Lhatse hospital. The hospital was not able to house this many people so a temporary tent was erected in the courtyard, which was busy until the afternoon opening.

It was the first time in Tibet for the majority of the volunteers and many suffered from altitude sickness. It was common to see those who lacked sleep and sleeping pills were popular. However, during the day, everybody was full of energy, doing whatever was needed. Volunteer Cai Zheng Shuo was tired beyond belief, but upon seeing a patient . Peking University BiMBA professor Fan Lirong organized the “Yak Commandos”- wherever there was heavy work to be done, they would get it done. Zhang Jianjun carried the disinfectant pan into the surgery room every day, without stopping at meal-time, carrying food trays for colleagues. This was a team of good-hearted people, happy to serve others.

Zhao Zhiling, a participant of eight years, lost many days’ sleep in Tibet, from altitude sickness and heavy responsibility and was regularly woken by dreams of “there are still things unfinished”…she was always worried that there was something she had not done. Even after returning to Shanghai, these dreams did not stop. She said: “each time I finished the Charity Bright Line, I would need a period to settle my emotions and often felt exhausted, but I don’t mind – how many things in life can affect you so?”

Charity Bright Line has fixed healthcare workers but the volunteers are mobile and this year, more and more “post-80s” and “post-90s” participated. 16-year old Zheng Ruxuan said: “Coming to Lhatse opened my eyes how underdeveloped healthcare is in these areas. Seeing the selfless contributions of Shanghai doctors has made my conviction to study Medicine even stronger.”

University student Zhao Rudong came with his father. Although both father and son suffered from altitude sickness, as a surgeon, Rudong’s dedicated father stayed in the operating room throughout. After seeing this, Rudong was able to let go of the past rift between him and his father. Wang Yiliao took time off from work to be a volunteer. He was in charge of outpatient registrations and in preparation for this role learnt some basic Tibetan so as to better serve the Tibetan patients. With emotion, he said: “In today’s fickle society, Charity Bright Line is undoubtedly a feast for the spirit and has made me understand the social responsibility and social values of today’s youth.”  

At the end of each project, volunteers leave waiting for the next meeting and the next Charity Bright line. Next year will be its 10th Anniversary, something we all will pay close attention to, as well as the future of China’s non-governmental philanthropy area.
 

BiMBA’s Charity Bright Line Project Lights Up Lhatse

Oct 27-2014   



9 years ago, ideals brought together a group of young people. They agreed that for ten days of each year, they would travel to underprivileged areas in China to carry out surgery and restore the vision of cataracts sufferers. With the help of this volunteer team, over 1,000 patients have regained their vision. 

From its establishment in 2006 to today, this non-governmental charitable organization has had an ethos of: “bringing the best medical technology and equipment to the underprivileged in remote mountainous regions to that they receive the best treatment.” It is committed to treating cataracts patients in impoverished regions.

As the “Charity Bright Line” host, The National School of Development (“NSD”) BiMBA has strongly supported the project. As BiMBA’s host organization, Peking University’s NSD has also been deeply involved in the project. NSD professor Hu Dayuan and other teachers have participated, not only in organizing and bearing project costs, but also becoming volunteers on the project. The project’s figurehead, Mr. Zhang Xingru is an outstanding alumnus of BiMBA and a leading figure in Shanghai’s ophthalmology field. The project has not only exhibited Peking University’s social responsibility and but also showed its exceptional organization and innovation in the charity model.  

On the 29 August, 60 volunteers from across the country gathered in Lhasa and, after acclimatizing, continued on their journey on the 31 August. As there were speed limits on Tibet’s highways, the larger team took a coach whilst Zhang Xingru took the smaller team visiting the school for the blind via train.

Volunteer Zheng Ting, part of the school for the blind project, arrived a day early to Shigatse and made preparations so that once the doctors arrived they could start on the screenings. Three students were taken to Lhatse County for the eye operation. Charity Bright Line gave the whole school brand new jackets and the students from the school performed very moving traditional Tibetan songs and dances.

At the same time, the larger team was still on the coach, at 3pm they had still not eaten lunch. In the evening, both teams made it to Lhatse and, without a moment’s rest, met to prepare. Each project’s work was split into seven or eight subgroups – the volunteers only had 10 days, so they had to make sure everything was well-prepared. 

On the afternoon of 1 September, hundreds of Tibetans, old and young, gathered outside Lhatse hospital. The hospital was not able to house this many people so a temporary tent was erected in the courtyard, which was busy until the afternoon opening.

It was the first time in Tibet for the majority of the volunteers and many suffered from altitude sickness. It was common to see those who lacked sleep and sleeping pills were popular. However, during the day, everybody was full of energy, doing whatever was needed. Volunteer Cai Zheng Shuo was tired beyond belief, but upon seeing a patient . Peking University BiMBA professor Fan Lirong organized the “Yak Commandos”- wherever there was heavy work to be done, they would get it done. Zhang Jianjun carried the disinfectant pan into the surgery room every day, without stopping at meal-time, carrying food trays for colleagues. This was a team of good-hearted people, happy to serve others.

Zhao Zhiling, a participant of eight years, lost many days’ sleep in Tibet, from altitude sickness and heavy responsibility and was regularly woken by dreams of “there are still things unfinished”…she was always worried that there was something she had not done. Even after returning to Shanghai, these dreams did not stop. She said: “each time I finished the Charity Bright Line, I would need a period to settle my emotions and often felt exhausted, but I don’t mind – how many things in life can affect you so?”

Charity Bright Line has fixed healthcare workers but the volunteers are mobile and this year, more and more “post-80s” and “post-90s” participated. 16-year old Zheng Ruxuan said: “Coming to Lhatse opened my eyes how underdeveloped healthcare is in these areas. Seeing the selfless contributions of Shanghai doctors has made my conviction to study Medicine even stronger.”

University student Zhao Rudong came with his father. Although both father and son suffered from altitude sickness, as a surgeon, Rudong’s dedicated father stayed in the operating room throughout. After seeing this, Rudong was able to let go of the past rift between him and his father. Wang Yiliao took time off from work to be a volunteer. He was in charge of outpatient registrations and in preparation for this role learnt some basic Tibetan so as to better serve the Tibetan patients. With emotion, he said: “In today’s fickle society, Charity Bright Line is undoubtedly a feast for the spirit and has made me understand the social responsibility and social values of today’s youth.”  

At the end of each project, volunteers leave waiting for the next meeting and the next Charity Bright line. Next year will be its 10th Anniversary, something we all will pay close attention to, as well as the future of China’s non-governmental philanthropy area.