The aim of the project was to raise awareness around disabled people's situation in China, aswell as giving all the participants an educational and memorable experience. The cultural exchange between the different nationalities involved, and the exchange of experience between people in different life situations were also aims of the TTB-project.

“Together to Beijing” was funded by charity from different institutions. The largest sponsors were BMW and Forest Park (both with offices located in China). The rest of the funds were collected from Norway, and was given by Red Cross Nordic United World College, Laila Thomassen & Jan Kristoffersen, Hope Rekneskapskontor og Ric Brekke & (mora til Alex). Alexander Sløk Mjelde and Tora Hope also supported the project financially.

BMW covered the flight expenses both ways between Yinchuan and Beijing for all the participants, as well as housing, food and entertainment for Saturday 13.09 and Sunday 14.09. Forest Park gave a total amount of 30 000 RMB in support for the TTB-project. These funds were used to cover the expenses for the last 5 days. The Forest Park funds were raised by the students of NSES, under the administration of former Sinonor - volunteers Martin Mcgloin, Cathrine Ekehaug, Karen K. Henriksen, Anna H. Olsen and Christian Bjartli.

On Friday 05.09.08 the group set off to the Yinchuan airport. At the Beijng airport we were greeted by Allan Cheung from Pegasus Communications (representing BMW). Allan brought us safely to the hotel by a rented bus. The next morning our schedule started, and the first stop was The Great Wall. Sunday we attended a paralympic event called goalball.

From Monday to Friday the group was led by Alexander, Tora, Qin Wen, and the volunteers Lucy and Jia Lei.

While the group was staying in Beijing, the responsibilities were shared between teachers, volunteers and students. The teachers were mainly in charge of organising the students, and the ensuring the safety of the students. Each teacher had areas of responsibilities, with one teacher as head of all. The volunteers had the main logistical responsibility, but were also to share the care for safety and well-being of the group with the teachers. In accordance with usual NSES practice, each blind student was guided by 1 deaf student.

The responsibility distribution worked well. Everyone cared for their specific area, aswell as making sure that all stayed together and were safe. The students were very cooperative and dutiful. The older students also took responsibility for organising and making sure all the participants stayed in the group. We meat certain problems based in cultural differences, such as teacher-student relationships. However, the volunteers were expecting such problems to arise, and had beforehand decided how to respond.

The group stayed at an average standard hotel the whole week. We missed a siitingroom, aswell as breakfast included. Apart from that the hotel was acceptable. The location was rather central and safe.

The volunteers were in charge of meals. Some days the group ate in restaurants, while other meals were enjoyed as take away in the hotel rooms. Our experience was that dinner was most successful if eaten out, while breakfast was best eaten in. During the last few days we found that we could buy breakfast in nearby university canteens. This was the cheapest and most tasty solution. We should have checked this alternative beforehand. In the beginning of the week, we got a complaint that some of the students were not full after a meal. We took this in to consideration, and made sure that there was plenty food the rest of the week.

Through “Together to Beijing” the participants meet many different people. We were all very visible as a big group with matching t-shirts. Either green (Fredskorpset) or white (BMW). The students are a lively and outgoing group, who based on their excitement and enthusiasm get a lot of attention. During the week a large number of people have seen the students using sign language, posing with their school banner, communicating with the use of simple English, writing-pads etc. In addition the project has been widely covered in both Chinese and Norwegian news medium, such as TV, newspapers, web papers and radio. The participants of the project, aswell as a number of people somehow surrounding the group, are left with increased knowledge about deaf and blind people's life situation. Our prejudices towards disabled people are fewer, and our recognition of the possibilities that exist is enlarged. At last, the participants are left with new friendships and new knowledge about Norwegian and Chinese culture.

By the end of the week most of the participants were exhausted, and ready to return home. The schedule had been busy, and the impressions numerous. Although we were all tired, the feedback from the participants was very good. As initiators we are proud and satisfied, both with the cooperation with NSES, the teachers, the students, Pegasus/BMW and the arrangement itself.

After returning to Yinchuan the time past quickly, and Sycnno's representatives are sorry that time was to short to show our gratitude to NSES and principal Wang. We had wished to invite him for dinner, both to thank him and to discuss future cooperation between NSES and Sycnno.

Sycnno will continue working with raising awareness about disabled people's situation in China. Our main focus will still be Ningxia, as this is where our partners are located. But we are also interested in special education school or similar elsewhere in China. By the end of October, 08, Alexander will return to Ningxia. He will stay until Christmas, and do “fieldwork” for Sycnno. In Norway the Sycnno - work will be led by Tora in the meantime. In the nearest future Sycnno will focus on finishing evaluations of the TTB - project, establishing Sycnno properly (ex. webpage, information work, fund raising), aswell as work towards our next project.

We are excited to continue working with Sycnno - and we sincerely thank everyone who helped making the journey to Beijing reality!