Utopix Magazine- Issue 2
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UTOPIX
JULY 2024
ISSUE 2
“The Unheard”
Rainbow Angels
Bakery
youth magazine
Featuring:
RAINBOW
ANGELS BAKERY
ARTS
KM FOR LOVE:
DEW DROPS
EDITOR’S NOTE
LITERATURE
Inside
Welcome to the second issue of
Utopix Youth Magazine, “Beyond
Boundaries: Redefining Abilities”!
In today’s society, the label “disabled”
often becomes a suffocating shadow —
an uninvited cloak of misconceptions
and stigmas that individuals with
disabilities are forced to wear,
following them wherever they go. This
label continues to stand as a barrier,
preventing many from fully
showcasing their unique capabilities
and talents. With this issue, we aim to
blur the lines between limitations and
possibilities, building a bridge beyond
boundaries, and redefining the
narrative surrounding the word
“disabled.”
Inside these pages, you’ll find heart-
tugging poems, thought-provoking
opinion pieces and inspiring artwork.
We are also honored to share
interviews with remarkable groups
such as Rainbow Angels Bakery and
KM For LOVE. Their stories remind us
that abilities are not defined by
limitations but by the boundless
potential within each individual.
As you read through this issue, we
hope you are inspired by the strength,
perseverance, and creativity of the
individuals and communities featured.
Polly Lee
On behalf of the Utopix team, thank
you for joining us on this journey of
redefining abilities. We are excited to
share this issue with you and look
forward to continuing to spotlight the
voices and stories that matter!
From the Editors
Jennifer Wang
RAINBOW ANGELS
BAKERY
Interview by: Lily Zhang & Jennifer Wang
Written by: Jennifer Wang & Polly Lee
COMMUNITY CHANGE-MAKERS OF THE MONTH
Today, we have the privilege of speaking with
Felicia Li, the founder of Rainbow Angels Bakery in
Beijing, China. Established in 2017, Rainbow
Angels Bakery is more than just a bakery— it is a
home to numerous hearing-impaired individuals,
offering them an opportunity to step into the
broader society, achieve financial independence,
and chase their dreams. Through Ms. Li's
dedication and leadership, the bakery has provided
free training to numerous hearing-impaired youths
from Beijing's rural areas. Join us as we delve into
the inspiring journey of Rainbow Angels Bakery
and explore the challenges and triumphs that have
shaped its mission.
Felicia Li: Of course. Rainbow Angels Bakery was
established in 2017. Initially, like many others, I was
a volunteer, dedicating my time to support hearing-
impaired individuals. In 2016, I was involved at the
most basic level of volunteering—donating my time,
offering compassion and empathy, and providing
food. By 2017, I realized that merely relying on
donations wasn't enough; the joy in their eyes was
fleeting, tied only to the moment of receiving.
First of all, may you please introduce the
background and mission of Rainbow Angels
Bakery?
This sparked a question within me: how could I create
lasting joy and independence for them? That's when
the idea of teaching them to bake their favorite treats
came to life, leading to the creation of Rainbow
Angels Cafe. Our mission was simple: to see the joy
and confidence find a lasting place in their eyes.
“HERE, THE WORLD OF
SOUND AND THE WORLD
OF SILENCE COME
TOGETHER, AND
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN
THE TWO SIDES
NATURALLY GROW
STRONGER.”
Since the opening of Rainbow Angels Bakery
in 2017, have you encountered any
difficulties and challenges? What impact
have these challenges had on the hearing-
impaired bakers?
Felicia Li: The journey hasn't been easy. In 2017, our
biggest challenge was earning trust. As a newcomer
from Taiwan, I faced skepticism. People wondered,
"Will she stay long enough to see this through? Will
you still be here after a year or even half a year? We
trust you; we grant you all the resources you need, but
will this last?" This lack of trust extended to the
bakers as well. People thought, “What? Teaching them
to bake? This sounds like an extremely difficult task.”
Back then, the truth was that for the majority of the
hearing-impaired population, their pathway in life
was limited to entering a big company and doing the
most basic tasks, for example, simply enacting the
role of security guards or just sitting there and helping
them photo-copy documents.
However, we believed in their potential to become
skilled bakers. Initially, gaining the necessary
resources was tough, and six months after opening,
we almost had to shut down due to low sales.
Fortunately, as our pastry skills improved, we began
to receive more support.
The COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022
brought another major challenge. By 2020, our
bakers had learned to make at least ten types of
pastries. The pandemic forced us to decide whether
to close or continue amidst global uncertainty. We
chose to persevere and even took a bold step: we
established a company for our bakers, transforming
them from students to formal members of an
enterprise. This was a significant milestone, but it
came with its own set of challenges, including a
major budget deficit that almost led to closure in
2022. However, we rebuilt and continued our
journey.
Over the past seven years, we've faced many
obstacles, from lack of trust to financial challenges.
Our journey to where we are now would not have
been possible without the love and compassion of
our supporters.
In closing, our interview with Felicia Li highlights the remarkable journey of Rainbow Angels Bakery—
a place where love meets resilience. Over the past seven years, this initiative has transformed the lives
of numerous hearing-impaired individuals, providing them with skills, confidence, and independence.
The challenges faced were significant, but through relentless dedication and determination, the
bakery has not only survived but thrived. Rainbow Angels Bakery serves as a powerful reminder to
what can be achieved when we believe in each other's potential and work together to make dreams a
reality.
In 2023, Western Academy of
Beijing (WAB) student Angelina
Anh Laute organized her first
Peachy Charity Run & Brunch and
raised RMB 28,068 for then-5-
year-old orphan Ping, who suffers
from a rare genetic skin disease
(epidermolysis bullosa, or EB).
The KM for LOVE Run & Brunch is
a product of years of love and
collaboration between family,
friends, and classmates that turned
a grassroots family initiative into a
Beijing community-wide mission.
Every day, Ping must wrap his
blisters in gauze like a mummy.
Inspired by his story, Angelina's
family and a small group of friends
on WeChat committed to a health
journey. They began recording the
number of kilometers each of
them traveled in a month through
walking, running, biking,
swimming, or other forms of
movement. They converted each
kilometer into 1 RMB for donation
directly toward Ping’s medical
care. This initiative not only
supported Ping but also reminded
them to be grateful for their
healthy bodies.
It all began in 2019 at a dental
clinic owned by Angelina Anh
Laute's mother. On one particular
day, Angelina welcomed patients
as her mother and her colleagues
dedicated the day to providing free
dental care to a community in
need. One of the beneficiaries was
Dew Drops, a home for medically
compromised orphan children.
Angelina met Ping, a 5-year-old
boy from Dew Drops who suffers
from epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a
rare genetic skin disease that
leaves his body full of blisters.
KM FOR LOVE:
DEW DROPS
COMMUNITY CHANGE-MAKERS OF THE MONTH
This experience stayed with Angelina until she
turned 15 and embarked on her Personal Project at
the Western Academy of Beijing, a Grade 10
initiative part of the MYP curriculum. She dedicated
her project to inviting more people to turn their
kilometers into love by organizing a community fun
run – the Peachy Run & Brunch 2023. With Peach by
TRB as the official partner and five corporate
sponsors, the event saw over 50 in-person
participants and 100+ donations from Beijing and
abroad, raising more than 28,000 RMB for Ping.
This collective effort provided four months of
support for 100% of Ping’s medical care.
Angelina continued her involvement with Dew
Drops by dedicating her Grade 10 World of Work
experience to completing a one-week internship at
Dew Drops. There, she worked with an inspiring
team and learned how this non-profit organization
has transformed the lives of hundreds of children. In
Grade 11, Angelina founded the KM for LOVE global
service student club at WAB with Dew Drops as the
official community partner.
My family and a small group of friends on WeChat
decided to commit to a journey of health. We started
recording the number of kilometers each of us
traveled in one month through walking, running,
biking, swimming, or any other forms of movement.
We turned one kilometer into 1 RMB for donation
directly towards Ping’s medical care.
Each kilometer we turned into love was a powerful
reminder to be grateful for our healthy bodies and
an act that empowered the health of Ping.
This experience stayed with me until I turned 15 and
stepped into my Personal Project adventure at the
Western Academy of Beijing, a Grade 10 initiative
part of the MYP curriculum. I chose to dedicate my
Personal Project to invite more people to turn their
KM’s into love by organizing a community fun run –
the Peachy Run & Brunch 2023.
The KM for LOVE Run & Brunch is a product of
years of love and collaboration between family,
friends, and classmates that turned a family
grassroots initiative into a Beijing community-wide
mission.
It began with my family – a day at my mom’s dental
clinic in 2019 as my 12-year-old self welcomed her
patients into the doors. Before the Covid-19
pandemic, my mom and her doctors at IDC Dental
Clinic would dedicate one day each year to closing
the clinic from normal operations and providing free
dental care to a community in need in Beijing – one
of which was Dew Drops, a home for medically
compromised orphan children.
It was through my mom’s initative that I met a 5-
year-old boy named Ping from Dew Drops who
suffers from a rare genetic skin disease
(epidermolysis bullosa or EB) that has left his body
full of blisters. Everyday he must wrap his blisters in
gauze like a mummy.
Please tell us a bit about how the KM for LOVE Run & Brunch originally
started. How long have you been working with Dew Drops?
At the beginning of this year, Dew Drops introduced
us to 5-year-old Mia – the very day we heard her
story, we decided to dedicate this year’s Run &
Brunch to supporting her. Since then, our team have
had multiple volunteer visits to Dew Drops’ home to
meet and get to know Mia. Her smile motivates us
every day to perserver in our work.
Mia is a bright, beautiful, and courageous five-year-
old girl. As an infant, little Mia suffered serious
burns on many parts of her body. Over the past
years, her orphanage has worked hard to help her
recover. Despite repeated surgeries and extended
hospitalizations, she still has areas that refuse to
heal.
With Peach by TRB as our official partner and 5 corporate sponsors, we had 50+ in-personal participants and
100+ donations from Beijing and abroad, raising more than 28,000 RMB for Ping. Through a community effort,
our kilometers turned into 4 month support for 100% of Ping’s medical care.
I continued being part of Ping’s story by dedicating my Grade 10 World of Work experience to completing a one-
week internship at Dew Drops, where I worked with an inspiring team of women and learned how this non-profit
organization has transformed the lives of hundreds of children.
When I entered Grade 11, I founded the KM for LOVE global service student club at WAB with Dew Drops as our
offical community partner, where I now lead a team of students to organize WAB’s new annual community fun
run – the KM for LOVE Run & Brunch..
How did you meet Mia?
In May 2023, Dew Drops opened their arms to Mia.
Within 1 year, Dew Drops has connected her with
Beijing medical specialists and facilitated 5
hospitalizations to mend her wounds and alleviate
joint contractures.
When Dew Drops first met Mia, she was unable to
straighten out her leg due to a serious wound
impacting her right knee. Now, she is able to put
weight on her leg and even take steps with the
assistance of a walker.
Mia is an incredibly capable child who meets each
day’s challenges with courage and a cheerful
attitude. She’s a quick learner and loves engaging in
games, puzzles, and craft projects. A burn injury is
one of the most painful injuries any person can
endure. At only 5 years of age, Mia has shown
unmeasurable courage, strength, and a powerful
love for life that humbles and inspires the people
around her.
Facing several more surgeries to come this year that
require around 200,000 RMB, KM for LOVE has
decided to do our part in supporting Mia on her
journey toward mobility.
What was the experience of organizing your
first run like and what did you learn from it?
The realization that I can make a difference has made
me grow as a student leader. I learned how to lead a
compassionate and powerful team that provides the
opportuinity for members to showcase their skills
whether in graphic designing, finance, or storytelling –
the KM for LOVE team is one that celebrates each
other. I am so lucky to be part of a hardworking team
where kindness is always contagious and who loves as
a form of transforming the lives of others and
ourselves.
The experience of organizing the
KM for LOVE Run & Brunch with
my team has been one of
tremendous reward and
empowerment. The most
rewarding part of this project has
been when I am approached at
school by students and teachers
I’ve never had the opportuinity to
speak to before, express the
inspiration they’ve received from
our work, and desire to be part of
the KM for LOVE mission. To see
an initiative that began with family
runs that now connect people
from all over Beijing is such a
powerful reminder of how the
impact each one of us can make
on each other.
On the back of the shirts worn by
the Dew Drops team are the
words spoken by Mother Teresa:
“We know only too well that
what we are doing is nothing
more than a drop in the ocean.
But if the drop were not there,
the ocean would be missing
something.” This awareness and
determination is what drives our
team. I am making my drop. The
KM for LOVE is has making our
drops. And you can make your
too.
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