Powerful kids - Part 2

Previous shows

Powerful kids - Part 1

Having a system of a class monitor and some little ministers in charge of different aspects of school life is common in China. The host Feng Xin and her producer come to one school in Beijing and talk to some powerful kids.

"Micro-charity" serves up free lunch

Nearly 10,000 children who live in China's poor countryside will no longer have to starve when they go to school, thanks to one man's micro-blogging, which turned into a nationwide charity program in just a few days.

The Chinese worship of "foreign brands"

A Chinese high-end furniture brand named Da Vinci marketed its products as being foreign-made, but quality issues suggested its furniture was made in China. Why are Chinese people keen on foreign products?

The Chinese "naked marriage"

While some Chinese couples spend tens of thousands of yuan to get married, others choose to spend only 9 yuan ($1.5) – all that’s needed to get a marriage certificate. Digest China invites three couples to tell their naked marriage stories.

How heavy are our tax burdens?

Starting Sept 1, 60 million people in China will no longer have to pay personal income tax. How meaningful is this change to individuals? How heavy are our tax burdens? Digest China finds them out.

Chinese uni struggles for independence

The South University of Science and Technology of China tries to establish what it calls "China's first independent university". But troubles came one after another.

Unharnessed: China's outdoor sports

Relevant research shows China was home to more than 50 million outdoor sports lovers, but the number of outdoor sports-related accidents is rising, as well. In what direction are China's outdoor sports heading?

How close are we to a food crisis?

Pork prices are at all time high. In other Asian countries, food prices have also surged significantly. How close are we to a food crisis because of price increase? And how can we help ourselves?

Background

In last week's Digest China, we visited a Chinese elementary school in Beijing and talked to a few 9- to 10-year-old children about taking power as student leaders at school. We were amazed by their sense of self-discipline and eagerness to be a role model for their peers. Many teachers and parents told us they consider student leadership an important and effective way for kids to be recognized by their classmates and equipped with necessary social skills at an early age. What are the student leadership systems like in other countries? For this week's Digest China, we visit an international school in Beijing and see what children do differently.

Poll

Guest profile

The students we interviewed are former student council members at the Western Academy of Beijing. The new elections have not been held at the time of the interviews. The students, teacher and parent come from four different countries.

Photo

Next show

While the European Union has become China's largest trading partner and China the second largest for the EU, the latter is experiencing a financial crisis. Many people have turned their eyes to China, but what does this crisis have to do with China? What role is China playing? For the next Digest China, we will be going to Brussels, the heart of Europe, to meet two guests.

The host

Having worked as a journalist in China, the United Kingdom and the United States, Feng Xin finds her passion for journalism runs as high as it did the first day she stepped into this profession. To her, no matter where it applies, good journalism is always a result of a genuine humanistic sympathy, rigorous inquiry and creative presentation. These became her founding philosophies of Digest China as its executive producer and host. Working with a group of young and intelligent producers, Feng invites you to digest China, a complex yet intriguing and dynamic country.

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