Wellington Charity Challenge 2025: Our Commitment to Charity

School Community Engagement Leader

On 10th May, the football field of Wellington College Hangzhou transformed into an energy hub of love and responsibility as the 2025 Wellington Charity Challenge kicked off in the morning light. With 56 runners of all ages, 18 charity booth hosts and dedicated volunteers, hundreds of Wellington community members came together through running, creativity and companionship to craft a touching narrative about 'growth, kindness, and a sustainable future'. 

A total of 4,392 RMB raised from the event was fully allocated to three major public welfare projects: UNICEF (50%), the 'Dream House' Left-Behind Children programme (25%) and the Million Tree Planting Initiative (25%), ensuring that every individual's effort is inscribed in the mission of safeguarding both children and the planet. 

Eighteen charity booths were scattered across the field like stars, each corner shining with the light of knowledge and action, serving as 'micro-practice fields' for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These booths addressed 12 core SDG areas, including poverty alleviation, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, and life below water, making global issues tangible through creative interactions. Among them, the following booths stood out as highlights: 

The Master of Wellington College Hangzhou, Kathryn Richardson's 'Reading with the Master' booth, built an educational bridge through literature. Displaying the Master's curated collection of Chinese and English picture books, children had the opportunity to read classics alongside her. Beyond the joy of reading, this space nurtured the seed of 'lifelong learning'. 

The 'HIBA Compost Guardians' booth from the primary school drew curious crowds as pupils demonstrated how to transform kitchen waste into organic fertiliser. This hands-on experiment turned the concept of 'circular economy' from a textbook theory into a tangible green practice. 

The nursery's 'Save the Ocean' booth was filled with innocence and purpose. Children and parents jointly painted visions of the blue ocean on eco-friendly paper—sparkling waves, diverse fish and swaying seaweed—with each artwork becoming a warm call to 'protect our blue planet'. Through painting, the idea of ocean conservation flowed naturally, conveying the vision that 'protecting the ocean means safeguarding our shared home'. 

The Senior School's 'Dream House' booth focused on supporting left-behind children at Daciyan Central Primary School. Pupils organised sales of handcrafted lacquer fans, turning each handicraft into a vehicle for care through creative fundraising. This initiative not only embodied Wellington's values of 'Responsibility' and 'Kindness' but also allowed pupils to understand that the essence of education lies in lighting up others' lives with one's own efforts. 

Following the successful planting of the first 'Wellington Forest' in 2023, the committee returned to campus activities this year with a goal of raising 25,000 RMB to plant additional trees in the core desertification areas of Inner Mongolia, continuing their ecological restoration efforts. Through sustained action, they demonstrated climate responsibility, turning every contribution into a green monument for protecting the Earth. 

Hosted by parent volunteers, the 'Friends of Wellington (FOW)' booth has always been a heartwarming presence at school events. During the Charity Challenge, the booth provided FOW sports kits and energy drinks for participating families, offering thoughtful support. The FOW parent team has consistently empowered school activities, embodying the spirit of home-school collaboration and injecting continuous goodwill into campus development. 

Founded by Dr. Jane Goodall, Roots & Shoots is a global youth environmental organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable development through education and action. At the event, their representatives showcased interactive installations on chimpanzee protection and the Million Tree Project. The chimpanzee protection exhibits highlighted research from Tanzania's Gombe National Park, calling for attention to endangered primates, while the Million Tree Project, which has planted over 2 million trees in Inner Mongolia and Ningxia since 2007, integrated ecological restoration with community development. The organisation conveyed the philosophy that 'every life matters, and every action can change the world', inspiring young people to engage in environmental protection through small daily efforts. 

Jingchao Community set up a 'Garbage Transformation Workshop' at the event, where professional waste-sorting instructors used physical models to demonstrate local waste management practices: food waste was converted into organic fertiliser through composting, wastepaper was recycled into art paper and hazardous waste was safely disposed of via professional channels. The workshop promoted the idea that 'garbage sorting is the first step toward a sustainable life', encouraging families to bring sorting habits into community spaces and contribute to 'zero-waste city' initiatives and environmental co-governance, turning 'green circulation' from a slogan into a tangible lifestyle. 

Yuqianwan from the Transfar neighbourhood generously donated 8,000 RMB to support the Charity Challenge, providing essential funding for event materials and preparations to ensure the success of the event and empower the supported public welfare projects. On-site, the brand created a 'Happy Ring Toss' interactive zone, where pupils and children enthusiastically participated, tossing rings to win gifts in a joyful atmosphere that became a heartwarming highlight of the event. Thanks to their compassionate support, philanthropy and joy went hand in hand, adding a warm touch to the occasion. 

Every booth at the Wellington Charity Challenge represented a network of SDG practices woven by community members with wisdom and passion. When creativity meets responsibility, and individual actions merge into collective momentum, we witness not just the success of an event but the power of the philosophy 'education is philanthropy' taking root in real life. 

"Together, we can! Together, we will! Together, we must save the world!"—the unified pledge of the crowd, accompanied by hundreds of smiling faces in group photos, formed the spiritual totem of the Wellington community. The ceremony honouring teacher volunteers and the donation handover to Roots & Shoots testified to the transformation of 'responsible education' from concept to action. 

From dawn to noon, this gathering in the name of love was not just a charity event but an immersive lesson in 'symbiosis'. Young children felt the warmth of kindness through running, teenagers understood the weight of responsibility through creativity, and adults became role models for values through companionship.  

Grateful to every runner, booth creator, volunteer and community member for your dedication! While the Wellington Charity Challenge has concluded, the journey of 'responsibility and love' continues. We look forward to the next gathering, where we will continue to write a brighter future through action.