This summer, a group of university student volunteers from Southwest China's Guizhou Province joined together for a public welfare project called Guarding Childhood, Growing Up Together. It was launched by the China Children and Teenagers' Fund (CCTF) aimed at offering caring services to rural children during summer and winter vacations. The volunteers went to Weixin Town in Nayong County of Bijie City in the province to offer care and love to local children and give them gifts prepared by the CCTF.

To make the summer special for the children, in addition to regular subjects like Chinese language and mathematics, the volunteers offered unique courses based on their own expertise and interests, including painting, fun science, interesting history, mental health, handicrafts and music appreciation.

Wan Yangyang, who studies in Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei Province, cherishes beautiful memories of his hometown. Upon learning about the opportunity to attend the volunteer activity in his hometown, he eagerly signed up and recommended it to his high school classmate, Zhong Houming. Wan is a fan of historical anecdotes. After he saw the statue of Confucius on campus, he decided to tell the story of Confucius, instead of other historical figures that the children were not familiar with. He emphasized the importance of adjusting instruction content from children's perspective. 

Zhong, who has similar experience with rural children whose parents work away from home, says that what the children need is not pity, but equal treatment and understanding.

Among the gifts provided by the CCTF, Xiaoxuan (pseudonym), a grade-two pupil of No. 2 Primary School in Weixin Town, particularly loved the kite. With vivid imagination, he colored the kite and flew it with his friends on the playground. He admired those vibrant university student volunteers and enjoyed their classes.

Another team of university student volunteers gathered in Shatuo Primary School, Panzhou City. Wei Hongfang, who was responsible for publicity affairs, captured exciting moments with her camera during a basketball game. She felt a great sense of responsibility towards the children.

Ma Fengxian, a university student of Bouyei ethnic minority, took the volunteer experience as an opportunity for her to give back to her hometown and support Guizhou's development.

During the math class, Ma won the children's heart, especially that of Xiaoxi (pseudonym), a girl with braided hair who sought her help eagerly. Seeing herself in Xiaoxi's admiration, Ma realized that she had become a guiding light for someone else.

Before the end of the 14-day volunteer activity, the children expressed heartfelt thanks and appreciation in various forms to the volunteers. For instance, students from Weixin gave volunteers their handmade love-shaped and butterfly-shaped origami, while children from Panzhou picked peaches and caught crayfish as farewell gifts. The children's innocence and enthusiasm inspired the volunteers.

The project was launched by the CCTF in 2019. This summer, it has drawn the participation of 1,500 students from 339 universities across the country and organized them to spread knowledge and love to about 9,000 rural children in their hometowns or other places in 23 provincial-level regions.

(Source: CCTF/Women of China)

Editor: Wang Shasha