Common Future Fund
Common Future Fund
Common Future was founded in Beijing, September 2016, as the first international volunteer project in China with public fund-raising qualifications devoted to helping refugee children and youth. Currently, the project operates under the guidance of China Children and Teenagers’ Fund, Beijing Wanguo Qilin Education Consulting Ltd., and Chinese Initiative on International Law.
Our Vision
Our Mission •We aspire to build a cohesive community of action to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees and forced migrants. We do this by raising public concerns and protection awareness of refugee problems, and supporting individuals to turn such awareness into actions. •We strive to connect willing and competent volunteers with the people in deplorable conditions, and play a critical role in China’s engagement in international humanitarian aid and development. •We seek to assist the public, especially young people, to develop their leadership skills, innovation abilities and a sense of responsibility for the global community.
Our Core Values
•Respect for Refugees. Rights and interests of refugees and forced migrants, who are important parts of human society, shall be respected and protected. Such person shall be in all circumstances ensured treatment in accordance with humanitarian principles.
•Anti-discrimination. We oppose all forms of discrimination, especially discrimination against minorities and the marginalized.
•People-centered. People are key contributing factors to any resolution. In particular, young people in society determine the future settlement of resolutions.
•China’s Perspective. Convinced that China’s development will bring opportunities and resources, we shall comprehensively explore such opportunities and resources to serve for promotion of the resolutions and strengthen through programs the understanding and mutual trust among general public, particular young people.
•Public Participation. Active participation of the general public provides conditions for the promotion and amelioration of resolutions.
Our Strategic Goals
•Public Events. Through diversified public events focusing on refugee issues and related resolutions, we are dedicated to raising public awareness of refugees and forced migrants, eliminating misunderstanding and biases, and improving people’s willingness and ability to take actions in refugee remedies.
•Policy Advocacy. We aim to leverage resources in public policy advocacy and boost active participation of the government and civil society in international refugee remedies, stimulate the formulation of more holistic international development, and humanitarian assistance policy and domestic refugee policy.
•Community Engagement. We intend to establish a well-functioning community mechanism which is expected to expand and reproduce by itself in the future, train a group of willing and competent community leaders and activists, sustainably develop the community to support resolutions and meanwhile, through such community, to channel assistance to our financial resources and partners.
•International Programs. We seek to strategically develop programs in regions influenced by the refugee crises in support of the improvement of rights and interests of refugees and forced migrants, and steadily expand destination countries and regions.
•Organizational Structure. We are determined to build a sustainable and self-perpetuating non-governmental organization with a clear orientation, reasonable mechanisms, clear-cut division of work, a competent executive board, transparent financial records and well-established social accountability.
In October 2015, Common Future research team departed from Holland for Germany to carry out on-site research in Dusseldorf, Bonn, Munich and Berlin. Extensive investigation including visiting local refugee camps and discussions with German NGOs, charities and Ministry of Foreign Affairs came to fruition with a 35 000-word report titled “On Syrian Refugee Crisis.” As the refugee crisis exacerbated, the trail-blazing significance of a Chinese NGO going to the refugee front line and conducting field research caught the attention of mainstream media like Global Times, Sina, Sohu & Phoenix News. Coverage of the story initiated widespread discussion and raised public awareness of the problem.
Common Future team set out towards Turkey to continue the research in Istanbul, Gaziantep, Kilis, Nizip, Sanliurfaspor, as well as Greek cities Athens and Mytilene. From interviews with UN coordination agency OCHA, UNCHR and NGOs that operate in the region came a 30,000-word report titled “Research from the Origin Area of the Refugee Crisis, or Feasibility Analysis on Direct Chinese Governmental and Societal Involvement in Humanitarian Aid of the Refugee Crisis.”
Common Future’s International Volunteer Project of Chinese youth aiding Syrian refugees in Turkey concluded its first phase of 2017. The first volunteers stayed in Turkish-Syrian borderline cities Nizip & Sanliurfaspor for 15 days of volunteer work as well as onsite investigation. During the course of the project, volunteers taught local refugee children courses including Painting & Calligraphy, Turkish and English. They brought home from this journey 45 paintings created by children in the refugee camp.
From July 4th to August 3rd, at two orphanages in Hatay and Gaziantep, Turkey, the second team of volunteers brought their carefully planned cultural and educational lessons to local children. During the month-long project, the volunteers and the children enjoyed creating artwork like calligraphy, painting and handcraft together, as well as playing sports and kung fu. Before departure, Common Future provided the volunteers with a thorough training session, briefing them about the specifics of the program, preparing them for the cultural difference, and ensuring their knowledge of overseas security. This volunteer project once again drew the attention of prominent media like Phoenix News and China Radio International, and videos of it also went trendy through popular social media accounts. Media Coverage Ifeng.com: Three Chinese Girls Caring for Syrian Orphans in Turkey. Caixin.com: Protecting and Accompanying War Orphans. Volunteers’ Diary Man Yuan: Spring Blossoms Are the Dreams of Winter. Yang Muyi: Scars under Happiness. Wang Qingqing: Syrians in Turkey. Yang Zishi: I’d Like to Tell You a Story about Syrian Refugees and Me. Yu Xiaoxuan: Laughter and Smiles in an Orphanage.
Common Future held the Refugee Children’s Art Exhibition Preview at Beijing Foreign Studies University, Tsinghua University and Beijing Kerry Center, as well as forum discussions with college students with an interest in the refugee problem.
On the 20th of June, World Refugee Day, Common Future held “Our Future Together” Art Exhibition in Peking University, with 50 pieces of painting by Syrian children on display, offering a glance into their daily life and state of mind. Also held at the event were “The Refugee Problem: the Tip of an Iceberg” Exhibition Opening Ceremony and Lecture, Movie Viewing and Volunteer Talk. The Exhibition was reported by mainstream media including People.cn, Huanqiu.com (click to read), cctv.com, and Arabian language media like CCTV Arabian Channel, Sina News Arabian Channel, Net Ease Arabian Channel etc.
Common Future Project Launching Ceremony was held at China World Summit Wing Hotel. Common Future and China Children & Teenagers’ Fund establish official cooperation. A special fund was started, raising fund from the whole society, to help Chinese youth go to refugee front line to provide better education for refugee children.
Common Future held a series of lectures on refugee issues in this phase. The first corps of volunteers gave an online lecture on their volunteer work. Tsinghua University Law School Professor John Anthony Carty was invited by Common Future to gave an academic lecture titled “The Refugee Problem and Global Governing: What Kind of International Law Do We Need?” Common Future volunteers shared their experiences of public welfare service as college students. Common Future Youth Council Member Zhou Tianyi shared his thoughts on “Humanity and Public Welfare” in “Self-Interested Public Welfare.” What’s more, the funder and CEO of YouthLead company, Yan Mi, as well as Sun Mengdu, Wheelock College “Connected Beginning” Preschool Teacher Training Center Scholar, gave talks and lectures online and offline upon receiving the invitation of Common Future, with the highest online viewing rate being 17,000 viewers.
Common Future started “A Camera, A Piece of Sunshine” Donation Program, which provided refugee children with 3 cameras to use in their photography lessons. At the end of May, Common Future held “Strings Cut from the Kite: Where Does Salvation for War Begin?” Movie Screening activity in Guangzhou, earning enthusiastic feedbacks from the audience.
On the 31st of May, in the famous Librairie Avant-Garde Bookstore, Common Future cooperated with students from Nanjing University and Nanjing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics to hold a refugee children themed salon, “Our Future Together.” Project founder and secretary general Mr. Michael Liu hosted the salon and talked about the research and volunteer experiences from the refugee camps. He pointed out the Common Future aims not only at material aid of the refugees, but also at helping them to reignite the hope of their life with our love and care. Professor Rami from Jinling College, Nanjing University shared with the audience his personal story of leaving Syria for Beijing because of Syrian Civil War.
On the 1st of June, the International Children’s Day, Bridge Gallery in Shanghai became the host of Syrian children’s paintings. Common Future Shanghai Committee held multiple movie viewing activities around the time, among them are “Growing Home” and “Dialogue: Chinese Youth’s 15 Days with Syrian Refugees.” Along with these activities, lectures and charity salons were held in Shanghai International Studies University Library. At the exhibition, visitors participated in making hand-drawn postcards for refugee children, sending them best wished for Children’s Day.
For more informaion, please consult the website below: http://www.commonfuturefund.org/en/
