To bridge the education gaps of children in remote villages in China, we started our Send A Volunteer Teacher Program for newly graduated teachers and retired educators. One of these is Teacher Liang Wei (26), currently a school vice principal and a mathematics teacher for 45 second graders. He began teaching in September 2020 and has gained many valuable experiences at his school. Through his letter, we were grateful to hear about his reflections as a volunteer teacher for six years.
“I stand in front of the yellow earthen wall, gazing at a group of children in their yellow and blue uniforms, red scarves tied neatly around their necks. The sunlight makes their smiling faces glow even brighter. Behind them, the red characters on the wall—“Study well and make progress every day”—are as vibrant as they were six years ago when I first came here.
When I first arrived to teach in this remote mountain village, the conditions were far harsher than I had imagined: dilapidated classrooms, a severe lack of teaching materials, and children whose shy eyes reflected the isolation of their world. But I never wavered. Just as I had left my city job behind without hesitation, I had come here to open a window to the world for these children.
When we read The Scenery of Guilin in Chinese class, the children had never seen these sceneries, so I searched for images and videos on my phone to bring the lesson to life. In math class, I turned the number of steps on a mountain path or the livestock they raised into word problems, helping abstract numbers take root in their lived experiences.
Gradually, those timid eyes began to shine. Little hands shot up high in class, and after school they would chase me down, eager with questions. Even the village’s big yellow dog started following us around, becoming an “unofficial student” of its own.
Time here flows like a quiet mountain stream—gentle, but full of strength. Watching the children grow from timid to inquisitive, I’ve come to understand the true meaning of this journey. Teaching in this village has become a shared path of growth. The words on the wall are more than just a slogan; they are our shared direction—study hard, reach for the future, and improve every day.
No matter how much longer I can walk this path with them, this chapter of my life—teaching in a mountain village, the pure bond between teacher and student—has become one of the most treasured memories of my life, shining brightly through time.”
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With your support, we can ensure that students in remote villages receive the quality education they deserve.
Help us make education accessible to all.
