Enticed by the opportunity to teach English in China, a group of South Africas, (All under the age of 25), entrusted Owen Wang, an agent claiming to represent Sanda Youth International – the job was unfortunately too good to be true.
They are currently detained by The Chinese government to testify against Wang, who has since been arrested for fraud.
Before leaving South Africa the students were given student visas and told their work Visas will be issued upon arrival. With their contracts signed and sealed, the youngsters got a one way ticket to China to begin their teaching jobs.
Once in China, Wang collected their passports in order to finalise their work permits. Unfortunately, Wang never returned with their passports, leaving the youngsters stranded with incomplete documents, unable to work and without a means to return home to South Africa.
Wang is under criminal investigation and has been detained by Chinese authorities. Many of the teachers have unknowingly been working in the country illegally.
“The schools never enquired about their working visas and never received them from Owen Wang. Instead our children were paid half their agreed upon salaries and told to hide from the police when they were investigated” – says Liza Bold, who’s 21 year old daughter, Lee-Ann, is among the detainees.
The youngsters are currently required to stay in the confines of their university dormitory, and are forced to survive on approximately R45 a day, enough to purchase a single plate of food and water, many of them have become ill, with no means of getting medication.
It has been made clear to the parents that the teachers will not be assisted by the South African government.
Hoping to raise funds to purchase food and other basic essentials, and in the long run, purchase flight tickets to fly the children back home, a crowdfunding campaign has been created on BackaBuddy.
The campaign has thus far raised R 26 022.62 with contributions from 42 donors.
“We have no idea when they will be coming home. Yesterday they were told it would still take a month, but today they were told they would get their passports next week. So we take it day to day…” – says Liza Bold
Liza would like to encourage South Africans living in China to visit the teachers and offer them some morale support during this difficult time, she told Krugersdorp News
“It would be great if someone could go and visit the kids and just let them know that, apart from their parents, there are other people out there that care for them too…” – says Liza
If you would like to support the crowdfunding campaign please do so here
Alternatively please use the Snapscan code below:
For additional information please follow the Facebook page here
or contact info@backabuddy.co.za
