Description

Shaxi: A Window to the Past
Located far off the tourist track in rural Yunnan Province - one of China's most ethnically diverse areas - Shaxi is the perfect destination for students interested in China's ancient culture, which is not easily found in the frequented metropolises of Shanghai and Beijing. The people here are ethnically Bai, and their bond with the land and environment has helped them carve out a pleasant rural life in this valley. Your home in Shaxi will be a renovated monastery that has been a vital part of the community for more than 200 years. We are honored to be welcomed into this sacred place, and we invite you to join us in this peaceful valley.

Your Bridge into the Culture
In order to help a community, you must first understand it. Mr. Wu has lived in the valley for over 30 years and has become a leader in the community. A dedicated environmentalist and educator with over a decade of experience in the classrooms of rural China, Mr. Wu will be your bridge into the Duan Village community.

For more than a decade, Mr. Wu taught English at the local primary school, where he noticed that few students graduated and even fewer went on to study at a university. Most stayed to work in the fields or traveled to the big cities where they found menial jobs. He has a dream for a better future in the Shaxi Valley and hopes to inspire students to stay in school, study hard, and attend a university.

Rustic Pathways has a long-term commitment to this valley, and we are proud to help Mr. Wu build a brighter future for his community. Together we have planned meaningful service projects that positively impact the area. Our first project is at the primary school where each year, we work with the village to identify new projects that meet the interests and needs of the students and teachers. In developing these projects we strive to create a location where education in the community can thrive. Past projects have included building a basketball court and renovating outdated classrooms. There is always work to be done, to make the school a better environment for Shaxi's students.

As a new member of an agricultural community, your work in Shaxi will also include many mornings working alongside the villagers in their fields. The small scale of family farms in this region and Mr. Wu's passion for and participation in ongoing projects in the Shaxi Valley to encourage organic and sustainable farming practices within this community, will provide you a great opportunity to better understand the methods of sustainable agriculture.

As part of our agricultural initiative in Shaxi, you will rise early most mornings and work alongside the villagers as they tend to their fields. You may plant and water crops, pick fruit and wheat for senior citizens, or even steer donkeys (that thankfully lighten the load) down the cobbled streets and out to the fields.

Yunnan Culture at its Best
When you aren't working on service, Mr. Wu, his family, and the local villagers will introduce you to Chinese and Bai culture. You will learn basic calligraphy, help cook classic Chinese food, play mahjong, and even have the chance to pick up a little Mandarin. You will also have plenty of time to play with the kids or hike to the nearby Shi Bao Shan Temple, which is renowned throughout the region for its beauty (and monkeys!). To cap off the experience, your group will host a farewell banquet and performance for the village elders at the monastery.

Your memories of your time in Shaxi will stay with you for a lifetime. This program connects perfectly with our Dali Language and Panda Conservation programs. It also easily connects with our other China programs, as well as our programs in Southeast Asia, Mongolia and India.

Highlights

LIVE in a stunning 200-year-old monastery.

WORK with entrepreneurial members of the community to develop proactive solutions for local problems and plan for sustainable growth in this picturesque valley.

IMMERSE yourself in the traditional Bai way of life as you work on service projects alongside local villagers.

ENGAGE in various community service initiatives, such as helping local families plant their crops, painting classroom walls, and building a new courtyard  complete with a lotus flower pond  at the local elementary school.

CREATE traditional Bai crafts as you visit with welcoming locals and share steaming cups of tea and delicious homemade dumplings. traditional Bai crafts as you visit with welcoming locals and share steaming cups of tea and delicious homemade dumplings.

Qualifications

Students must be 14-years old and up to participate on the program. Additionally, participants must submit an application through the Rustic Pathways website and complete the appropriate documents before traveling on the program.

Type of Programs

• Community Service / Volunteerism
• Cultural Exploration

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

USD 1,295 + 735 Internal Airfare

Cost Includes:

• Excursions
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Travel while in host country
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

The above cost includes all ground transportation within China, 3 meals a day, housing, staff through the duration of the program, all supplies for the volunteer projects and all excursions on the program.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Agriculture
• Building/construction Projects
• Culture
• Teaching
• Volunteering

Age Range

14-18

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Other

Participants Travel

in Groups

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 6-12 students

Scholarships are Available

Scholarships are available annually for students interested in Rustic Pathways programs on an application basis. The scholarships are for all Rustic Pathways programs across the world and not only for this particular program. Applications for scholarships are available starting in late January or early February for students and interested parties should contact Rustic Pathways directly to learn how to apply.

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Typically The Application Process Time is

1-2 business days

Rustic Pathways's Mission Statement

Rustic Pathways is a pioneer in providing superior quality travel and service programs for students and families in some of the world's most welcoming countries. Rustic Pathways demands professionalism and integrity across all of its operations, insists on quality in all aspects of its programs, and places the safety of its students above all other considerations. We enrich the lives of our students and our staff, benefit the parts of the world we serve, and build cultural bridges that lead to greater global understanding and cooperation.

Year Founded

1983