Ning Bao ’16 returned home to China last June ready to put her summer holiday to good use and intent on making a difference in people’s lives.

Passionate about – and actively involved in – volunteer work since she was in primary school, the current King’s senior began searching for opportunities to help others in her local community when she came across a school for mentally challenged students – the first of its kind in her hometown of Sanmen, Zhejiang. Established in 2011, the school lacked a steady source of funding, and Bao felt compelled to do something.

“Music is something I can do well so I figured I could use my talent to raise awareness and help these kids,” said Bao, who has been playing the piano for 12 years.

With the help of a local non-profit organization, Bao organized a fundraising concert in which she would perform solo on August 16 to help raise awareness about the needs of the children at the school.

Despite her initial fear that the event wouldn’t garner enough attention, some 600 community members showed their support that night and the impressive amount of around US $10,000 was raised.

“I was told that I was the first person to approach anyone about such an issue and that something like this had never been done before in my city,” said Bao. “So I told all my relatives and friends to come because I had no idea so many people would show up in the end!”

Bao also took the opportunity to educate the audience about Jordan and the Middle East as well as about the importance of giving back.

“After coming to King’s, I’ve had so many opportunities through Round Square, like visiting the Zaatari refugee camp and an orphanage for Syrian kids,” she said. “My goal is to raise awareness wherever I can. Everyone can do charity in different ways . . . love and warmth are contagious.”