Teacher Yang Xinqi Gifts Children Lifelong Art Appreciation

Teacher Yang Xinqi (20) is one of our volunteer teachers in the Send A Volunteer Teacher Program, who bridges the gap in education for students in remote, mountainous villages in China. She was an art teacher for 34 students in grades three and four. She shares her experience through a letter she wrote:

As a volunteer Chinese teacher, I stepped into Taha Village Primary School. Upon arrival, the worn-out classrooms and the children’s pure, innocent smiles left a deep and lasting impression on me.

During my first Chinese lesson, I stood on an uneven platform, facing a classroom full of children whose eyes were filled with a thirst for knowledge. I was deeply moved by this. As I guided them through the recitation of classical poems, their uneven but resonant voices rang out like the most touching melody in the world. I tried to help them understand the meaning and imagery of the poems, and the curiosity and confusion in their eyes pushed me to explain in more vivid and accessible ways.

In a writing class, to give them more material to draw from, I took the children to a corner of the schoolyard to observe the ancient tree behind the school. They gathered around it—some touching the bark, others picking up fallen leaves—excitedly sharing their discoveries. In that moment, I saw how attuned they were to the subtle beauty of life. Back in the classroom, their writing, though still immature, was filled with genuine feeling, which filled me with comfort and pride.

During recess, the children often surrounded me, asking what the world outside was like. I told them stories about big cities, with their towering buildings and convenient transportation. They listened with rapt attention, their eyes shimmering with wonder and longing.

As time went by, my bond with the children grew deeper. One day, when my voice had become hoarse, a student quietly left a note on my desk: “Teacher, thank you for your hard work.” That simple gesture brought tears to my eyes and made me realize just how meaningful my efforts were.

Though the days of volunteer teaching came with many hardships, I was repaid with the children’s pure love and growth. This experience has been like a beam of light, illuminating my path—and I hope, in some small way, it has helped lay a warm and hopeful foundation for these children’s future in the mountains.

Teacher Yang not only taught children art, but also the beauty of life and the world that surrounds these children. One day, these children will look back on Teacher Yang’s guidance and it will remind them of how beautiful even the most mundane tree bark could be. How art knows no one, as long as one is human.