The Magic touch

Doctors at Beijing's largest children's hospital studied medicine, the nurses attended college and then there is Li Zhongbao. He graduated from clown school.

Stomping around in big shoes, wearing colorful clothes and led by his funny red nose, Li is obviously not an official staff member of Ertong (Children's) Hospital. But he is one of its most popular people. Li is part of group of expats and local Chinese volunteering their time to add a little magic to the lives of children recovering in hospital.

German Claudia Vogg started Magic Hospital in the Chinese capital in 2003 and the movement has quickly grown with a new branch opening in Shanghai and more projects developing. One special program is called Abracadabra, which grants a wish to seriously ill children.

"A young boy was hit by a car and severely injured," says fellow German Constanze Maronde, coordinator of Magic Hospital in China. "All he wished for was to see his grandparents. They were far away from Beijing living in the countryside, so we managed to fly them in and set them in a hotel so they could reunite. It was really touching."

Another Magic Hospital event is T-shirt day. Sick children are given a T-shirt and coloring markers and are encouraged to design a new creation. "Bringing fun and laughter to kids is like an addiction," Maronde confesses. "Once you try it you can't stop." Maronde has lived in Beijing for two years now and took over as Magic Hospital China's coordinator last November. "It's a lot of work, but overall, it's gratifying," she says.

The T-shirt day concept was born three years ago and was the brainchild of two volunteers. Today it is a huge event attracting more than 200 volunteers across three locations all around China. Maronde says Magic Hospital has attracted private donations but as the organization grew, more sponsors joined to support special events, such as T-shirt day.

"Sometimes there are people who have something to give, but they don't know who should they give it to, so they trust Magic Hospital as a connecting link to deliver to people in need," she says.

In Beijing, Maronde is in charge of foreign volunteers, who work side by side with Chinese volunteers. The split is 50/50, she says. It is a real multicultural group, with members coming from all over the world. Volunteers meet once a month and prepare other special events, such as the Music and Art programs at a migrant workers' children school. There is also an English teaching program.

Although expats were the driving force behind the group, Maronde says more Chinese are getting involved. "The awareness of charity in China is growing fast," she says. "Talking from my experience I can say Chinese have a very open heart when they feel they can help."

Maronde says, "The work couldn't be done without the outstanding collaboration of the hospital nurses. We come, we do our thing and we leave, but they are the ones making our job possible and easy. We really have to thank them for that."

The volunteers leave and Li Zhongbao finishes his weekly clown tour at the hospital. The kids wave goodbye. They are wearing their new T-shirts, are laughing and beaming with smiles. The smile is the aim of Magic Hospital because as they say, making a single kid happy is definitely the best reward of all.