Eternal joy in school of hard knocks

The dirt roads that lead to the village of Cui Ge Zhuang in Beijing's northeast Shunyi district are not far from the well-paved, tree-lined roads of a villa neighborhood. But the lifestyle of its migrant laborers is a world apart.

As one approaches the village, it is easy to see that this is a place the municipal authorities are in no hurry to serve. In an otherwise bleak setting, the Love and Hope Center for Migrants feels like an oasis of joy. The pleasant sounds of music, a joyful game of basketball in progress, the focused attention of 6-12 year-olds in an English class - all belie the threat of closure hanging over the center.

Its Saturday school is clearly popular with Guo Xin, 11, from Henan province, whose parents are street snack vendors. This confident and articulate youngster says: "The English teacher at the migrant school that I go to during the week is no good. Her English is worse than mine." Guo's one older brother, 17, lives in the hometown with the grandparents. Asked how often she sees him she says: "Once a year" and averts her eyes.