However, the Christmas Charity Tour, organized by the Global Times warmed the school Wednesday. Eager for Christmas gifts, the kids became a little more boisterous and were almost oblivious to the school's less than perfect conditions.

Guests from the embassies of Greece, Pakistan, the Czech Republic and Azerbaijan, as well as France Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China, the Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China, and Singapore Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China joined the event.

"More and more people pay attention to the development of migrant schools. Money has been raised through charity events like the Global Times Christmas Charity Tour. This year we also received donations from the expat community, including the Italy Embassy in Beijing, who donated 10,000 yuan (US$1,400) and stationary for us," Chai Mingxiang, the president of the school, said.

The children welcomed the donations. "My favorite class is music, I can not only dance but also play the piano, which I cannot do in my home. When I go to middle school, I will have opportunity to learn computers and surf the Internet," said Xin Shulei, 11, a senior student at the primary school.

"But donations are not enough. We are still struggling for money. There is no government funding, and the majority of the funding still comes from tuition. Tuition at the primary school is 500 yuan per year and at the middle school is 750 yuan per year," said Chai.

"Therefore, it is difficult for us to attract and keep good teachers," added Sun Qigui, dean of the school. Deng Wenyu, who has taught mathematics in the school since she graduated from university in 2005, earns almost 1,000 yuan a month. "My salary is really low and with no benefits. The only motivation for the career is my passion," she said.

Nevertheless, the biggest problem now is that the school may be demolished.

"We will move the school to east Beijing next year which is very far from here. Then we have to start again. The lack of a settled site may make the development of the school and the children uncertain," said Chai.

"Although migrant workers are forced to move all the time, the construction of the city is done by them. The government should provide affordable education for these poverty-stricken migrant children," said Hu Xiaomei.

Behind her the huge towers of the CBD that were built by hands of migrant labor were gleaming.

(Global Times December 17, 2009)