(Written By: Ashely Bondurant, Design Technology Teacher)

BCIS recently held its first Eco-Market to great success. In keeping with our school mission, focusing on sustainability and service to others, we invited companies from around Beijing that focus on making the world a better place to sell their products side by side with our students. Our first market included:

The Bulkhouse – selling sustainable products.

Bread of Life Bakery – a non-profit organization run by physically disabled young adults who have grown up in orphanages in China.

Locally produced products, such as Lilly's and Zest Homemade Soap, Parwaaz Chutneys, and Naked Nut Butters.

SanYuan – giving people an option to have yoghurt home delivered in glass bottles, reducing their plastic consumption.

As well as local organic produce from a few farms around Beijing.

Student groups such as the BCIS Student Council and Roots and Shoots created a recycling center. The BCIS Student Business Club sold plants, the Focus Group provided their digital design services, and Grade 6 students sold books from their book drive to raise money to help orphans they worked with on their Week Without Walls trip.

We also included individual students who pledged a portion of their profits to help others. These included Sydney's reusable produce bags, Travis' English Muffins, and Oliver selling honey harvested locally. Student musicians also provided entertainment.

They all came together on a beautiful, but blustery day. Parents were able to shop as they came to pick up their children. Elementary students came out in their last period, and the whole student body spilled out as school finished. The Eco-Market made for a wonderful, community building event and a reminder of why BCIS is such a special place.

Please come and join us for our second Eco-Market happening on Friday, April 19, from 15:00 until 17:00. We look forward to seeing you on the day!

Date: Friday, April 19

Time: 15:00-17:00

Place: BCIS Main Campus