Sending good wishes for the New Year, the children’s winter holiday has arrived as scheduled. At the same time, our 2025 winter camp also warmly begun. This year’s winter camp was divided into two sessions, with the Spring Festival of the Year of the Snake interspersed between them.
During the ten-day winter camp, the volunteers and the children built a very strong relationship. In the classroom, the volunteers acted as teachers, imparting knowledge and leading the children on a journey through the sea of knowledge.
After class, the volunteers became friends. The children clung to the volunteers, asking them questions or simply chatting about anything — from how far away the sky is to how big the world is, how many stars there are, and whether the chicken or the egg came first.
Of course, traditional culture was also a part of our courses during the winter camp. The children tried making their own lanterns, writing the Chinese character “FU” for “blessing”, and cutting paper decorations for windows. Each of their little creations reflected their most sincere wishes and hopes for the New Year.
As the final day approached, the winter camp culminated in a joyful music event. The day before the closing ceremony, the volunteers asked the children to submit performances for the event. The children enthusiastically signed up, and in just one day, we received nearly 20 performance entries.
On the afternoon of the closing ceremony, the classroom on the third floor was filled with laughter and joy. The children showcased their talents, singing, dancing, reciting poetry, performing martial arts… Through their innocent and lively performances, they exhibited an energetic vitality, bringing the winter camp to a spectacular conclusion. Additionally, the volunteers also presented their own talent performances.
The short ten days of the winter camp not only provided the children with an unforgettable experience but also fostered growth for the volunteers. Let’s see what the volunteers have to say.
“During the days at the winter camp, teaching and accompanying the children were the main themes of my daily routine. Every day, from the moment the children stepped into the classroom, my work began. I assisted the teachers in conducting classes, from fun-filled English craft lessons to programming courses that fully engage the children’s imagination. Each activity was like a window for the children to explore the world. In the craft lessons, the children carefully cut and glued, with full focus and seriousness. In the digital literacy classes, when they successfully wrote a program using their imagination, their faces lit up with excitement and pride, making it a beautiful sight.” — Manqi Wang
“The courses were diverse, and I experienced many new and interesting things. I also met many like-minded volunteers. Surrounded by a harmonious and friendly atmosphere, we helped each other. The children’s enthusiasm and laughter made me feel deeply rewarded and filled with a sense of accomplishment.” — Renzhe Tao
“The course schedule was rich, and at first, it was challenging for me to adapt to the new administrative work. But after some time, I became used to the daily routine. Some children were mischievous and hard to manage, but overall, the experience strengthened my comprehensive abilities, gave me experience in clerical work, and improved my teamwork skills with colleagues. This will allow me to quickly adapt to the work I will do in the future. It also further solidified my determination to become a teacher, as I gained more practice and experience.” — Zihe Huang
A deep bond was formed between the children and the volunteers during the winter camp. At the moment of farewell, the children expressed their thanks with their sincere words and promised to meet again during the summer camp. In this somewhat chilly winter, the children and volunteers brought each other joy and laughter, becoming the warm sunshine in each other’s lives.