Ithaca College

Flying under the radar of IC's cause-based student organizations since its inception in October 2013, Ithaca College China Care Club (IC3C) has seen great success since its re-branding this past academic year. IC3C kicked off the semester with a bang, organizing its “One Billion Rising” event this past Valentine’s Day in the IC Fitness Center to promote awareness of domestic violence. Being able to host this event, which also happens to be part of an international revolution to end violence against women, was an opportunity that the student organization was very grateful to have.

“It just felt like we were part of something really big,” Co-President Monica Chen said. “People from different states and countries were dancing to raise awareness for the cause.”

IC3C’s primary mission, since re-branding this past year, is to raise awareness about the child welfare system in China and to raise funds for orphans in China. They serve as a chapter of the national One Sky Foundation. Because of this, Chen and the other executive board members felt a very strong connection to One Billion Rising’s cause.

“The reason why orphanages in China have bad living conditions is that women are pressured through [the] two-child policy to have boys because they’ll provide more resources to family. Women and girls are then neglected and abandoned, often leading to hard lives and violent experiences.”

Chen was integral in IC3C’s re-structuring, working with founder Zihui Adams and the other executive board members to make a plan for future success.

“[We] took the time to reflect on past mistakes and surround ourselves with people that could help our club succeed and now we have amazing people.” The student organization is now devoting this semester to helping One Sky’s Infant Nurture program, a developmental program to help emotionally and mentally disabled children (ages 0-2) with the help of trained nannies.

The student organization is also devoted to collaborating with other chapters of the China Care program. Last November, Chen attended a conference of China Club chapters at Tufts University, where organization members strategized to develop fundraising ideas and discuss ways that each chapter could work to strengthen the China Care name.

IC3C meets Thursdays at 7PM in Friends 102. The student organization’s next event will be a Tye Dye T-shirt fundraiser. Check out their Facebook page for more information on their mission and how you can help out!

To learn more about other student organizations' accomplishments please click here to read the latest issue of Club Hub!