For Students and By Students: Story Heard From the Village

       Back in 2010, Students from Concordia International School Shanghai, an American curricula-based international school located in Shanghai, China, had successfully held its annual project of Yunnan English Project, YEP, in Da Shan Bao, a rural town in Yunnan Province.

Local students from Da Shan Bao are posing for picture

What is YEP 2010?

       Yunnan Education Project is an annual project that aims provision of education and human care services in impoverished regions, where residents cannot enjoy educational and technological benefits that we take for granted. Three students of Concordia International School, following 10 students’ school service trip to the Yunnan Province, started the project in 2002. The project's original goal was to help minority children fund their education up to Grade 6. It has expanded to additional provinces in China, providing school buildings, school libraries, school materials, English language instruction, village water systems, leadership and health education, and high school scholarships.

      In 2010, Yunnan Education Project team, composed of 22 instructors and students, provided English education service in an impoverished rural town Da Shan Bao from January 23 to 29, 2010. Yirang Park, participant of 2010 Yunnan Education Project, commented on the trip, “We went to Da Shan Bao as teachers, but the kids inspired and taught us more with their beautiful smiles and unconditional love.”

A week in Da shan Bao

       I, as one of the participants of the 2010 Yunnan Education Project team, was in charge of teaching local students in Da Shan Bao basic English vocabularies. Showing enthusiasm and passion for learning, students were eager to note everything that my team members and I taught them. The lecture was held in the form of art class; team members and I distributed color papers and taught students how to fold origami. In the process of teaching origami, the local students naturally learned English vocabulary. Despite I had no experience in teaching students and organizing lectures, local student’s eagerness to learn gave me great support to continue the lectures for one week.

       After the one-week of service trip ended, Da Shan Bao village generously held festival to appreciate us and congratulate our successful English-teaching in Da Shan Bao local school. During the festival, a girl from the Da Shan Bao local school played Chinese traditional flute and I believed it would be the last time I hear from that girl.

      

Children in Da Shan Bao are posing infront of Camera (not a picture of the girl mentioned below)

Story heard from the Village

      After few days had passed after the Yunnan Education Project, an unfortunate story was delivered from the village to YEP team members; a 4th grade student in Da Shan Bao, who had played the Chinese traditional flute in the celebration festival, had lost her both parents by accident right after the YEP team had left the town. All the 2010 Yunnan Education Project team members and I gathered in a room and discussed how we can help the girl. Fortunately, after contacting with Concordia Charity Group, which is in charge of planning and processing YEP-related programs, for few times, the group gladly promised to take care of the girl, who now was staying with her brother and sister due to the absence of parents.

The Girl Now Stands by Herself

       After few months have passed since the 2010 YEP team members heard promise of Concordia Charity Group to take care of the girl, we could hear updated information regarding the girl from Concordia Charity Group. The girl who lost his parents due to the accident now attends a school outside of Da Shan Bao. The school that the girl now attends provides better quality of education and, best of all, dormitory that the girl can stay during weekdays. During weekend, the girl goes back to house provided by Concordia Charity Group and her aunt frequently visits her. Even though she feels lonely often times, she tries to maintain her bright personality.
      To a member of Concordia Charity Group, the girl told, “I am recently learning how to cook food, but I like the school cafeteria food better.” Mr. Chris Carter, the instructor of 2010 YEP team commented on the girl, “No one knows the end from the beginning. No one can know how the girl will grow, or what her future holds. However, the YEP members do know that, now, she has a future in education.  YEP members believe that there is no such thing as coincidence.  YEP members believe that the girl and the YEP English team were brought together in space and time for many reasons.  Surely, one of them was so that YEP members could show the power of selfless giving and love to the people of Da shan bao, and to a little girl.”

 Our Promise 
 

       2010 Yunnan Education Team has finished its mission of teaching Da Shan Bao local students English. However, while the annual gathering, all of the YEP members promised to never forget the girl and Da Shan Bao, and someday visit the village again to share those privileges that we enjoy due to better economic and technological environment. (Name of the girl is not specified for her privacy).