"Hi everyone! Welcome to our class outdoors. Let's learn about Guitang River ..." Fan Jingjing, the speaker, designed the class. She often leads children, and their parents, during a walk along Guitang River, so they can study the ecological environment around the river. 

Guitang River flows through downtown Changsha, capital of Central China's Hunan Province. "In the past, the ecological environment of Guitang River was badly polluted. But today, the river is known, nationwide, as a successful case in making great improvement in its environment. Many primary and secondary school students living in this community know a beautiful river flows through the city. They like building tents and/or flying kites, near the river, with their parents during weekends or holidays. I hope the children will realize the beautiful environment they are enjoying nowadays was actually created by countless people's efforts. Children growing up near Guitang River need to know more about the efficient ecological remediation of this river," Fan explains.

For that reason, Fan has cooperated with schools near the river to design and teach 18 classes, which have outlined improvements in Guitang River's ecological environment. 

Fan, a professor, teaches at Changsha Environmental Protection Vocational College. She helps her students think seriously about relationships between humans and nature, and she helps them increase their awareness of the significance of maintaining a harmonious relationship with nature. 

In recent years, Fan has explored innovative approaches to providing volunteer services to primary and secondary school students, to popularize natural science education and knowledge related to the ecological environment. 

By working with Hunan Botanical Garden and area schools, communities and public-welfare organizations, Fan has constantly made an effort to promote ecological-civilization education, raise public awareness of ecological civilization, spread knowledge related to the ecological environment, and enhance volunteer services aimed at achieving ecological improvement. 

"I know an individual's strength is limited. But if I can inspire more people to participate in education related to the ecological environment, together we will cultivate more volunteers in this field," Fan says. 

What services has Fan provided as a volunteer? "I have organized a lecture on the topic 'There Is a River Nearby My School.' I have told students, and their teachers and parents as well, historic and cultural stories about Guitang River, inspiring the children to love and protect the ecological environment of their hometown. I have introduced the finless porpoise to children, outlining the aquatic animal's physical character traits, life habits and current living situation, and emphasizing the importance of ecological protection and restoration in Dongting Lake, where finless porpoises live. During summer vacations, I have shared with students vivid cases about the protection of biological diversity and the harmonious co-existence of humans and nature." 

Fan says it is absolutely important to first inspire children's interest, and then help them develop wisdom and effective ecological-protection practices. "It's about the change from 'I am required to do something' to 'I want to do something.' The inner drive, in children's hearts, is very important," Fan adds. 

In the process of offering natural science education, Fan has heard positive feedback many times, especially the sentiment of "feeling healed." Says Fan: "If a person obtains a sense of beauty from his/her environment, it is likely that person will obtain a stronger sense of happiness. If we help children obtain happiness and harmony in the environment, in which they live, they will learn to live in harmony with their residential environment, and work environment, after they grow up. This is very important for children's growth."

Photos from Interviewee

(Women of China English Monthly June 2024)

Editor: Wang Shasha