Every year in early April, the students of Likeng Primary School in Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province stand at the school gate waiting for their volunteer teachers. Students from Jiangsu Nantong RTVU shoulder

the responsibilities of teaching and help to spread love through their actions.

“Left-behind children need more love”
 
“I know that teacher. He was here last year!” Yu Keyao exclaimed excitedly at the sight of Xu Guangzhou, who was accepted for a decoration and design major at Nantong RTVU in 2011. Last year, he was among the first volunteers to teach an art class. Yu Keyao said: “He taught me how to fold a paper duck and now I can do it very well.”

This example reflects the volunteer work of Nantong RTVU at Likeng Primary School. Since 2012, they have provided art classes for left-behind children, including drawing, paper cutting and painting.

“These left-behind children need more love and attention,” Yuan Shuo, a student at Nantong RTVU, said. “There is a generation gap between left-behind children and their grandparents. As a result, they tend to be quiet and withdrawn.” At the same time as teaching them how to draw pictures, Yuan Shuo talks with the children to try and draw them out of their shells. “Seeing them change is really encouraging and shows me that my efforts are not in vain.” 

“They show me my own value”

Xue Yun, who has been studying an accounting major at Nantong RTVU since 2010, has been working as a volunteer teacher in the Nantong branch of Chuanminzidi Primary School, Huoqiu County, Anhui Province for three years. She took the reporters to see students having a Chinese lesson. The students are attentive and engaged, in spite of the school’s worn surroundings. According to Xue Yun, the school has seven grades, including preschool classes. Sometimes teachers have to teach multiple classes due to teacher shortages. “Students here have little access to the Internet and television. We are the only chance for them to learn about the outside world. Their eagerness shows me how valuable my work is.” 

“We let students teach students, so that they can learn from each other.” Liu Qidong, Party secretary of Nantong RTVU, said, “They have so many things in common. The volunteer work is a win-win opportunity for them.”

“Sending love to left-behind children”

Left-behind children need continuous love and care; however, the volunteer teachers have to leave once they graduate. Can the love they give the children last? President of Nantong RTVU Zhang Jianfeng said: “One student only has limited enthusiasm, however they can pass this enthusiasm on to the other students of Nantong RTVU, creating a lasting legacy.”

As President Zhang Jianfeng said, more and more Nantong RTVU students have paid attention to left-behind children since volunteer work started at Chuanminzidi Primary School in 2003. In 2010, Nantong RTVU’s Communist Youth League called for volunteer teachers to go western China. Five schools from Nantong RTVU participated in the activity. In recent years, over 2000 students have worked as volunteer teachers and over 6000 students have participated in voluntary activities.

Party secretary Liu Qidong said: “The volunteer students are sending a really positive message. These independent, confident and lively students are helping left-behind children to feel loved.”

By Zheng Jinming and Ding Yi, Guangming Daily