The Hua Dan Project

The Vision

Hua Dan brings together and inspires diverse members of Chinese society to explore issues common to all through participation in theatre and other creative training techniques.

Our workshops also help develop valuable life skills of self-esteem, communication and team spirit.

Our objectives

1. To bridge the gap between China’s rural and urban population by developing projects that address issues related to migration, globalisation and true ethical development.

2. To develop both life and practical skills necessary for work and personal life success.

3. To make the link that understanding and developing our creativity enables us to fully realise our potential as human beings and our collective contribution to society.

Our workshops

Hua Dan develops and implements life skills training projects with migrant workers, university students, employers, policy makers and international volunteers that use participatory drama workshops as their core content.  We use a variety of applied theatre forms, namely advanced role-play, improvisation, creative games and exercises, storytelling and other participatory training techniques.  The workshops act as a way to educate and inspire around a range of issues as well as provide a forum for key stakeholders in China’s development process to come together and contribute to solutions for a better future. Participation in the workshops also helps to develop:

• a space for building relationships
• creative thinking skills
• leadership skills
• team-building skills
• self-awareness
• confidence
• empathy
• presentation skills
• communication skills
• self-expression
• self-esteem. 

Our past projects have included work with Da Gong Mei Zhi Jia (Migrant Womens’ Club), UNESCO, Nong Jia Nu Xue Xiao (Rural Women Knowing All), Sculpting in Time Café (project with serving staff), Chinese Acadamy of Social Science (government officials) as well as independently run workshops.

Background

There are more than 120 million migrant workers in China, the majority of who work in China’s service and construction industries, taken on as casual labour with little legal or social support.  They are on the fringes of society, denied access to education, healthcare, fair employment and other basic human rights.  They have few opportunities for education and training, to receive support, build networks with others and share their experiences in an environment that fosters mutual learning and development.  They are an extremely vulnerable sector of the population and yet are making great contributions to China’s economic development.

We believe it is imperative that all sectors of society should be engaged in addressing the inequities in wealth and equality of opportunity in China and thus seek to build bridges through our projects between key stakeholders able to make an impact on these issues.

Hua Dan’s goals 

• To fully tap the potential of all individuals in China, particularly those migrating to the cities in search of greater opportunity
• To build on our established, tried and tested training courses and reach a wider audience
• To encourage sponsorship and investment in our projects for the mutual benefit of sponsors and participants
• To widen the range of courses and projects available
• To train more workshop facilitators
• To create a sustainable model that can be replicable all over China
• To educate, enlighten and inspire all who come into contact with Hua Dan and its work
• To challenge prevailing views that development for the few comes at the cost of the many and to offer alternative, sustainable and inspirational models for human progress

Our work has been extensively covered by both the Chinese and foreign media. Of particular mention is the two-part documentary about the Hua Dan project produced by China Central Television’s well-known programme ‘Half the Sky’ in the autumn of 2005.  Copies of this documentary are available from the Project Director on request.  Hua Dan’s director, Caroline Watson, was also recently interviewed about the project on the BBC World Service’s ‘Everywoman’ programme.

We are now poised to broaden the content and scope of our projects to make a more significant impact within the Chinese community.

Please see our website at www.hua-dan.org for more information or email our Project Director for a copy of our complete business plan.

Who we are

Hua-Dan was founded by Caroline Watson in Autumn 2004.  Born in Hong Kong of British parents, Caroline returned to Asia in 2001 with a strong desire to contribute to a culture that has so influenced her upbringing.

Caroline brings to this venture extensive experience of theatre training and workshop skills, having a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies that included a particular focus on community theatre and participatory approaches to training and education.  She has facilitated and developed workshops and training courses in the not-for-profit sector, with government training programmes, the English language sector and in corporations in both Hong Kong and China. She also has 5 years experience of English language training in Britain, Spain, Hong Kong and China and is currently an examiner for the IELTS examinations for the British Council.

She is a passionate, dedicated and dynamic social entrepreneur who uses these skills to develop individuals in China and be a model for best practise in other countries and communities.

Caroline is only a part of a team developing Hua Dan to its full potential.  She has a team of highly enthusiastic and committed volunteers, mentors and project assistants who are supporting her in the growth of this innovative project.

Go to the people
Love them
Learn from them
Start with what they know
Build on what they have
And when it is done
They will say
We did it 

Lao Tze