CRI Reporter Andrea Hunt speaks with Mr. Harvey Dzodin at the Global Time charity event [Photo:CRIENGLISH.com]

Despite Dongba Xinli's sparsely filled and chilly classroom, the volunteers were warmed seeing the radiant little faces and having their time emotionally requited.

"I'm here because I love children and I'm really impressed with the enthusiasm today of the children here in the school and the love that they've shown us," said Harvey Dzodin, correspondent for Global Times and former VP of the ABC Television network, who was instantly popular with the kids because of his Santa Claus hat and benevolent disposition.

In addition, a bearded little Chinese Santa and his comrades showed their appreciation for the gifts with little skits in English for which they had diligently rehearsed.

Grinning with a bright smile and carrying a teddy bear literally half his size, Counselor for the Azerbaijan Embassy Mr. Bayram Hasanov colored Christmas cards with four children at their desks and chatted in Chinese.

"This is a great opportunity to see all these happy kids, actually, these are the children of the parents who are building China, so it's great to see put something back and give back to them as well," says Global Times editor Terry Hackett, who is a long time participant in charity events.