Volunteer Teacher Experience At MenYuan

Introduction

Six years ago, I volunteered as a teacher in MenYuan. Life there was very different. As someone accustomed to big city living, the village was a new world to me. It was a place where water and electricity were cherished, not taken for granted. While I was happy to teach my students, it pained me that I couldn’t do more for them. I did everything I could to assist the students and help them see a brighter future.

They are amazing kids!

Although those kids had never been to a city before and few had access to TV or social media, they were just as imaginative as any other children. I taught them English and PE, and they all showed great curiosity during classes. They kept asking what life is like in other countries, how many countries there are in the world, and what the ocean looks like. I could see in their eyes that they longed for a life beyond their village. They wanted to explore the world with their own eyes.

My team and I lived there and brought them a lot of new knowledges and fun. We helped them to discover their dreams, discussed what they need to do in order to fight for a better future. We brought toys, magzines and books to teach them the structure of the world. Those kids are very friendly and hard-working as well. They never stop asking questions.

The environment was very challenging, and most of the time, my team only had potatoes to cook. However, many of the kids' families knew about our situation and would generously send us vegetables they had grown themselves, which were highly valuable in that village. My team and I were very grateful for their kindness.

In the end, we were responsible for teaching not only at one school but at two. To reach the other school, my team and I had to climb and hike for 1.5 hours each morning. Despite the difficulty, we didn’t find it tough. We saw it as a great experience and were happy to provide our help, even if it wasn't much. At the very least, we could laugh with the kids and imagine a bright future together.

I still remember everything from my time there and wish them all the best in everything they do!