A GATEWAY TO GIVING
I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to participate in Stepping Stones’ rural individual program, which allowed me to spend two weeks at a children’s home in Shaanxi, helping children learn English.
JOURNEY TO CHILDREN’S HOME
Originally from Belgium, I am currently studying abroad in Nanjing. The journey to the children’s home involved a six-hour train ride from Nanjing to Xi’an, followed by a one-hour drive to the village where the orphanage is located. Upon arrival, the head of the children’s home warmly welcomed me. The children, who appeared healthy and happy, were enthusiastically playing on the playground and came up curiously to say hello.
The children’s home is situated in a charming small village close to Xianyang. This was my first experience staying in the Chinese countryside. On one side, a mountain rose on the horizon, and fields filled with wheat and vegetables stretched as far as the eye could see. It was much more peaceful than the bustling cities I had been in.
BEYOND TEACHING
At the children’s home, my tasks extended beyond helping the children with their homework. We played together, I told them stories before bedtime, and even helped blow-dry their hair. My role was much more than that of an English teacher.
During the week, I mostly interacted with the younger children, primarily those in primary school, as the older children stayed at their middle school throughout the week. The children’s home maintained a very structured daily routine. The children woke up at 6 AM to prepare for school, ate breakfast, and then walked to school. After returning, they completed their homework and went to bed at 9 PM. On weekends, the orphanage welcomed guests who engaged the children in various activities.
I walked the children to school daily, a 30-minute walk through the fields, totaling two hours of walking each day, which I thoroughly enjoyed. During these walks, the kids would ask me numerous questions about English words and my life in Belgium.
TEACHING AND LEARNING
In addition to my stay at the children’s home, I taught some English lessons at the local primary school to children from first to fourth grade. Teaching at the school was a rewarding experience, and the students eagerly chanted along to the songs we sang in class.
Furthermore, I also visited the local kindergarten where I played with the kids.
REFLECTIONS ON VOLUNTEERING
One of my favorite moments at the children’s home occurred on a Friday evening when I was sitting outside with some of the kids on the playground, teaching them English phrases. In return, they happily taught me some of their local Shaanxi dialect. I cherished this exchange as it made me realise that I was not just there to teach but also to learn from them. Volunteering is a reciprocal experience where we not only give but also receive.
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
Although I only stayed for a short period at the children’s home, I recognised the limits of what I could do as an individual. However, I hope I at least sparked the children’s interest in learning English. Even if they learned just a few words, that would make me happy. Looking back, this was a wonderful experience. The children’s home felt like a small sanctuary in the Shaanxi countryside.