[Voluntory Organisation]University Students in Middle School

When talking about voluntary work, what occurs to you first? For many people, it’s the program which brings scientific and literary knowledge and offers medical services to rural areas.

During this year’s summer vacation, a group of GDUFS students took part in the program named “Volunteer activities for the country people” at Lingbei Middle School in Lingbei town, Yangshan County, Qingyuan in Guangdong Province. To know more, we were lucky to interview Vice Team Leader HE Zhiqing, and Leader of the Teaching Group CHEN Xinxin.

The first meeting

Though 6 months had passed, the experience could still arouse their excitement. During the 10-day program, both the voluntary teachers and the students there shared an unforgettable memory. Apart from normal subjects like Chinese, maths and geography, other subjects such as psychology were also part of the teaching plan. Besides, they also shared their experience at university and other life experience with the students there, encouraging them to embrace their splendid futures. Activities could never be missed. Quiz show, fun sports meeting, dessert making and other various games enhanced their relationships and colored their daily study. When asked about the most unforgettable thing, HE recalled that during the Game “3, 6, 9”, all the volunteers and students clapped their hands excitedly, throwing themselves into the joy and relaxation of the game. “At that moment,” she said, “I felt like we became part of them, and we were as close as a family.”

Playing the Game “3, 6, 9”

Fun Sports Meeting

Making dessert

Quiz show

If you thought the happiness and comfort is all they’ve got, then you would be wrong. Divided into several groups with different obligations, members had a lot of things to prepare before they started the volunteering. The investigation group was responsible for drawing up questionnaires and collecting information such as conditions of the target schools first, so that they could make follow-up plans. The logistics group needed to work out the menu and prepared goods and materials ahead of time. The publicity group was obliged to design the posters and write passages on WeChat. The teaching group needed to set teaching plans as well as preparing the teaching materials before classes. Besides all the complexity, there were also difficulties. Life conditions were not comfortable: They had to light fires and get bath water by themselves. The PPT they prepared needed to be changed according to the feedback of the students. And some students even challenged their class management.

Regardless of the circumstances, the volunteers could always face their life in the country optimistically. What’s more, they gained a lot during the process. They enhanced their friendship with fellow team members and improved themselves by learning from each other. They built friendships with the students there, many of whom cried on the leaving day. CHEN said that on the last day, the students came to see them off. “Before I actually did this, I thought this program was all what we could give them,” HE said. “But after I’ve experienced it, I found the help was mutual. Ten days may not be enough to give them some practical skills which can be used right away, but the influence exists.” Meanwhile, just like CHEN said, the innocence and activeness of the middle school students really impressed them.

  The Teaching Building

Being a volunteer is hard. Being a good volunteer is even harder. And what things will qualify a good volunteer? They are patience, responsibility, and a passionate and helpful heart. You get patience to help, responsibility to contribute, and faith in your heart to insist.