Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP cooperate with You Dao Foundation to give migrant families a warm winter
 
On Thursday 27 October 2011, the Shanghai office of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP took part in its “2011 Community Challenge”, an annual event devoted to involvement in community projects. For the second year running, the Community Challenge was hosted by the You Dao Foundation, a charitable foundation dedicated to helping migrants in practical ways so that their lives can be improved. The Freshfields volunteers referred to this year’s event as Project Warm Winter.
 
Before the Challenge Day, Freshfields collected assorted donations for eight migrant worker families sponsored by You Dao Foundation, such as children clothes, books, and blankets which will be used to help the families get through the cold winter.
 
On the Challenge Day, Freshfields volunteers arrived at a local kindergarten for migrant children and participated in a morning of activities. The children were divided into four groups and played games designed by the volunteers, including “fishing”, nose painting, sand painting and English song class. After the games, the children were awarded prizes. The children were so excited that they even forgot their lunch hunger.
 
Following the activities, Freshfields volunteers, with the company of You Dao teachers, visited three migrant worker families that are currently sponsored by the You Dao Foundation. The volunteers talked with the migrant families to understand their needs and offered a sympathetic ear. One group of volunteers provided basic legal consultations to a migrant worker for his personal injury case. After understanding the plights faced by these families, Freshfields volunteers decided to take more actions in the future to help these families.
 
After a short lunch break, Freshfields volunteers spent the afternoon at the You Dao Fengxian district family centre, helping the teachers sort donations for different families based on their needs and disinfecting donated toys for the newly furnished play room.
 
Project Warm Winter turned out to be a success. It not only warmed the migrant families’ winter but also warmed the volunteers’ hearts when they saw the children’s faces light up by their visit.