RLS For China 2010 - A Retrospective [Part I]

I first became aware of the HAND organization through news of the traveling exploits of family friend – or should I say legend - Jeff McConnell. Originating in Kentucky, he had enjoyed a consistently turbulent career as an educator, whose methods would often lead to bizarrely mixed results. Just one of the many Jeff-related stories my father enjoys recollecting is about how Jeff was able to simultaneously coach an inner-city Chicago high-school basketball team to both victory and notoriety in the late '80s, cuts, bruises, insults and all. This is perhaps a story (or post) for another time.

Jeff lending a HAND in Yunnan

In any case, it was early 2010 and word had come through that in his usual off-the-wall style, Jeff had somehow found himself working for what seemed like a two-bit British-based Charity in the Yunnan Region of Southern China, which apparently provided medical assistance for ill and often impoverished children there. Having further researched the organisation, it turned out that my initial impressions of the charity had been somewhat correct – it was indeed a low-tech operation, but in fairness it did appear to bear all the hallmarks of an up-and-coming organization, apparently making a very real impact on the area it was based in. It was clear that numerous children, not to mention young men and women had been provided with the medical attention simply unavailable to them up until that point. The results seemed more visceral than the other charities vying for my attention at that point; obviously not one of the “charity tourist”* organizations I had grown so weary of when considering my gap year options.

I was immediately attracted to the HAND project – it was clear that this wasn't just another commercial charity with massive administrative costs and adventure holiday schemes that would ultimately wind up doing very little for the local population. A quick glance at the website demonstrates the unassuming nature of the organization, and the charity's independence was certainly a breath of fresh air.

After getting in touch with Gareth, the manager of the HAND and most, if not all, of the charity's initiatives, it became obvious that the main thing I could contribute at this stage was a fund-raising initiative. And so after some thought, and fresh consideration of a particular piece of literature that I had enjoyed in childhood, I made one.

* “Build a house and do the haka for £3000” - an amazingly common offer for kids fresh out of private school. I myself know at least two people who fell for this distinctly commercial, rather than charitable, arrangement.


TO BE CONTINUED IN PART II