Project Learn, Experience Grow Venue:Xiangbi Middle
School, Yunnan,
China Date:
4th to 20th
June 2007 Team strength: 15
XiangBi Middle
School, Dali, Yunnan, PRC is the only village school in the
area. The student population varies constantly as many of them
dropout to help their parents in the farm. A 15 member youth team
under partial sponsorship of National Youth Council (NYC) will be
taking over part of the school curriculum and we hope to:
Teach basic
English in a fun and relaxed environment.
Contribute
to the school library and cultivate a love for reading and
learning.
Broaden the
students’ world view and perspective through cultural exchange and deep
sharing
This Youth Expedition
Project to XiangbiMiddle
school has been the most
transformational experience since my ORD days last November. It
challenges me on not only administrative planning, organizational
skills and leadership abilities but allowed me to realize these
are but the least exciting aspects of the trip itself. The
overwhelming experience that dawned upon me was the spirit of the
students there.
Never in my life had I
felt such genuine enthusiasm, eagerness, energy, robustness and most
of all - appreciation for some tiny contributions made by our
presence there. Indeed I must say that these kids dwarfed their
Singaporean counterparts by mountains, in respect of their
earnestness and warmth. They put us all to shame. And I may arguably
say that perhaps this could be the most heartstring tugging teaching
experience - until the next visit there again.
Joshua Lai,
21
Team
Leader
This experience has
prompted me to review my priorities and values in life. Apart from
striving for personal aspiration and career development, we need to
also play our part towards the community and helping the
disadvantaged among us.
I
was very impressed by the simplicity, discipline and enthusiasm of
the students there. It made for a very meaningful expedition which
allowed me to understand their struggles and challenges, and bond
with the rest of the team.
That they have overcome
the odds has inspired me to continue to continue to contribute
actively to society and even embark on other similar overseas
projects in the future.
Judy Seow,
28
Team
Facilitator
Simply awesome! The
students in XiangbiMiddle
school enjoyed so much from
the programs and activities that our team has planned for them. The
laughter, the smile and the tears (on the day of departure from
the school) that the students and the YEP team has
shed definitely make it worthwhile for all the hard works that
the team has put in. This is definitely a service-learning project
that I would encourage all youth and young working adults to go
for...
Abraham Tan,
30
The trip is an
eye-opener and escape from my routine back here in
Singapore. We always complain
about life, studies, work, not having enough money, and etc. Yet,
the people over in Xiangbi are just so satisfied with whatever they
have. They are eager to learn and puts in extra effort for whatever
they do.
It
is a wonderful experience and I have fostered friendships with the
people that I have met on the trip. This project is something that I
will not forget in the couple of years to
come.
Grace Chan,
22
Being on the
YEP team has shown me how people of varying age groups and from
different walks of life, with different backgrounds, can come
together for a common cause. Friendships were forged, memories were
created and experiences were gained. It is a pity I had to pull out
of the trip and could not complete the entire journey with them.
But, even so, after hearing them share about their experiences, I
can sense that it was an eye-opening and enriching experience and
that the friendships forged are the best takeaway. We started as
strangers and finished as buddies.
Hui Ting
Yap,
19
The trip to Yunnan
Xiangbi,
I’ve seen the innocence
of people;
I’ve forged true
friendships;
I’ve experienced the
beauty of simplicity;
I’ve realized that
giving leads to greater happiness than taking.
“Few of us can do
great things, but ALL of us can do small things with great love.”
-Mother
Teresa-
Irene Ling,
20
“A
small action can make a big difference.” This statement is a true
testament of my experience during this trip. To be frank, I was in
doubt before I set off as to how I will be able to contribute to the
trip and students. I always felt that I did not have much to offer
and would be more of a hindrance. Little did I expect that my words
and actions would have such a big impact on my students.
Students have written
back to me telling me they feel much more positive about life and
they have developed a strong passion for learning English. The very
success and failures I once tasted and shared with them inspired
them. The trip has also bonded the team very well as each member got
to know each other on a more personal level.
I
feel extremely privileged and honoured to be able to contribute
towards this trip and I feel that a domino effect has been set in
place. Students whom I interacted with told me they will share what
they learned and pass on the experience to their friends, thus
benefiting others as well. A spark has been ignited by us and I
believe the flame will be passed on to many.
Kelvin Chin,
21
This has been an
eye-opening experience for me since the start, when we knew little
of what to expect and do. Planning from scratch helped forge
beautiful and wonderful friendships. Times spent planning for the
trip helped bond the team and definitely gave me a chance to do
things that we don’t usually do.
During the trip, it was
an eye-opener to see such good character among the team members. The
selflessness of the guys who willingly carried the heavy loads was
very admirable and totally shocking - certainly way better than many
guys I know.
Teaching and interacting
with the kids there is really different from doing the same in
Singapore. Their enthusiasm –
they would be most willing to attend lessons late into the evening –
was simply beyond my comprehension.
Li Pei Koh,
19
This trip has made me
realise how fortunate I am to be Singaporean and how starkly
different living standards across the world can be. I have decided
to devote more effort, attention and time to helping the less
fortunate locally because I now have a better understanding of their
problems and want to be there to support them.
Singaporean youth
can and should learn from the Chinese students by slowing down their
pace of life and taking stock of how blessed they are, from having
whole families to everyday facilities and an impeccable national
utilities and transport infrastructure.
Minty Cai,
22
They study 14 hours
a day, 6 days a week and go home once a week. Yet a game of
basketball or a climb up the mountain can keep these little souls
happy for a day. They will not complain about the lack of
opportunities or be discouraged by facts that they cannot change.
Instead, they face life with hope and strive hard in every
attempt.
I have learned to
prioritise so that 'time is not enough' is not an excuse, and how to
manage my expectations and refrain from complaining. I now persevere
in the face of obstacles because I know these are nothing like the
challenges encountered by the 13-year-olds in
Yunnan.
Rachel Lam,
29
Project Learn,
Experience, Grow was, by any measure, an overwhelming success simply
because it lived up to its name for both the students at Xiangbi and
for my team.
It
was an awakening experience, both figuratively and literally (when
the mosquitoes continued to declare their love for our foreign blood
even in the dead of night). The distinct Chinese culture – a
refreshing one for me, given that this was my first visit to the
country – was a palpable one. From the relentless thirst for
knowledge of the students to the unprecedented pace of development
even in the countryside, I had witnessed first-hand the rise of the
Dragon.
I left brimming with
confidence in the future of the children. They were bright and
inspired sparks who had the potential to achieve wonders if given
the opportunity. I take immense pride in knowing that my team
members and I tirelessly spent two weeks planting seeds of progress
and inspiration in the children, and we left fervently hoping that
given the attention they deserve in the coming years, their efforts
will bear fruits of unheralded success.
Sanjay Nanwani,
20
"No one has yet realised
the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the
soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to
unlock that treasure." --Emma Goldman.
Bearing Goldman's wise
words in mind, I set off for XiangbiMiddle
School, with fluffy ideals of
educating the youth who hold the hope of a better tomorrow. What I
experienced impacted me far more than I could ever imagine. The
expedition taught me the value of simplicity - the ability to
appreciate life's nuances and nature's gifts. I learned a tremendous
lot from my team mates, who collectively exhibited immense strength
of character, resilience, and comradeship. 2500 kilometres away from
Singapore, I couldn't feel closer
to home. My time in Xiangbi will be remembered fondly, rooted by
delightful memories of interaction with the students of the Rising
Red Dragon.
Sanjiv Nanwani,
20
Words
cannot express this whole YEP experience. The children showed us so
much warmth and I was impressed by the simplicity of their lives. I
am very glad to have been there to widen their English
vocabulary.
Throughout the
17 days in Xiangbi, I have learned the importance of being contented
by the things that I'm blessed with. Together with my wonderful,
fun-loving & passionate teammates, this expedition has truly an
awesome experience for me.
Wanxin Koo,
22
Far, far away from my
homeland, we decided to carry our heavy backpacks and explore the
place. We overcame all obstacles and finally reached our
destination. Along the journey, we conquered the high mountains,
deep valleys and the harsh cold weather. We challenged the different
terrain and modes of China's transport system. We
were greeted warmly by the Chinese people and enjoyed every second
spent interacting with them. Tears showered upon everybody's faces
on our last day we and were very reluctant to go. I hope that they
have benefited from us and will find true happiness, just like we
did.
Yee Chwan Ong,
20
I
joined this YEP trip with the simple aim of wanting to teach English
to the students in Yunnan. Initially, I thought
two weeks would be too short for us to make any difference. I
never expected that I would bond so strongly with the students at
the end of the trip. It prompted me to make a return trip back to
the school again just to see the students again. I was very
touched by the friendship and love from the students, and I know
I will never forget them. I am also extremely grateful to my team
members, who had given me so much motivation and encouragement
over the past few months. Together with the students, they have
made a difference in my life.