FELC Volunteers Gain Valuable Experience in Sanpai County
Time:August 8, 2008 Author: Editor: Source:
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August 5 - A team of 21 volunteer students from the Faculty of English Language and Culture set off from GDUFS July 15 to Sanpai County, a settlement of the Yao ethnic group in Qingyuan, Guangdong Province, to volunteer for two weeks as teachers. The team was one of five from FELC that were assigned to offer educational assistance in Yao settlements this summer. The Sanpai team conducted an English language camp which attracted over 200 Yao students aged from seven to fourteen.
Far from urban crowds, Sanpai Junior High School lies deep in the heart of a mountainous region. Due to the poor local economy, the school is ill-equipped and educational opportunities are very limited. In the absence of proper English training, the students who joined the camp showed a dearth of language skills in comparison with their urban peers. In light of these shortcomings, the team of FELC volunteers conducted three courses: Comprehensive English, American and British Culture, and English Pronunciation.
Yao students eager to learn
Fun while learning
Visiting students' homes
On the way through the fields
Besides teaching, the team enjoyed several trips with a variety of aims. On the afternoon of July 19, ten members visited the Sanjiang Retirement Home to entertain the elders with songs, dances, tricks and musical performances. On July 22, twenty-two team members set out on three different routes to call at the homes of students. Most day students walk one to one and a half hours to get to school each day. To reach as many houses as possible, the team set off in the early morning and returned late in the afternoon. During the journey, they were treated to the beautiful countryside scenery, realized more clearly the extreme difficulty in which the students live. The team members made great efforts to encourage the families to support their children's schooling.
Harvesting peanuts
The Paiyao village of Laosanpai
Four days later, eight team members volunteered to help harvest peanuts on a nearby farm. Though the inexperienced "farmhands" were of little help, during two hours of fieldwork they experienced the camaraderie of manual labor. The next day, a group of ten team members conducted research on Sanpai marital rituals. After a three-hour walk, the group arrived at Laosanpai, an ancient Paiyao village of small adobe homes scattered at the foot of a mountain top. The group interviewed some villagers who were happy to provide the necessary information in detail.
During the two-week volunteer service, the Sanpai team members had to make their own meals. Because Sanpai Junior High School is far from town, team members had to take turns getting up at six o'lock each morning to purchase vegetables and pork from a street peddler for the team. Other chores included collecting firewood, building cooking fires, preparing meals and washing dishes. All team members claimed that their cooking skills greatly improved.
A variety of talents performed for a farewell party
The day before the program ended, the team threw a farewell party full of laughter. The three classes of junior high students each sang two songs and some students performed a traditional Yao dance. The "teachers", as they were addressed each time the students met them, performed a waltz, aerobics, a short play, songs, and musical instruments.
That afternoon, all team members donned treasured Yao costumes that had been offered by the local students. In tears the team members and students bade farewell to each other. The life there, simple yet deep, difficult yet happy, will be remembered by all.
Photos taken by Sanpai team members
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