Volunteer to Teach English to Children in Rural China

I taught for about a month near Hongmei in Fujian China. It was an amazing experience, incredibly valuable. I felt I was welcomed into the community and everyone went out of there way to make sure I didn't feel alone as I was the only native English speaker. My mandarin was pretty shaky (HSK 3/4) but enough to understand what was going on and communication for the most part, and there were a few people who could speak English so that was nice. There were definitely some cultural aspects I had to get used to in terms of teaching and communication, but none of my mistakes were held against me. The teaching program was very structured if you wanted it to be (all teaching resources and slide shows where provided) but they also gave you the freedom to not use them and go your own way (more what I chose to do)

In late 2023 I set foot in the Chinese countryside for the first time, partnering with Stepping Stones on a volunteer mission across Henan and Shaanxi. As a Chinese American, this experience was deeply personal and eye-opening. It connected me to my heritage while giving me the chance to support something I am passionate about: providing access to quality education. I had the privilege of working with dedicated individuals to help children in rural communities gain the tools and knowledge they need to shape their futures. Education has the power to transform lives, and supporting rural education is one of the most effective ways to uplift and revitalize communities. Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful for this journey. It reinforced my belief in the importance of equitable education and the role it plays in creating lasting change. For anyone seeking ways to give back, initiatives like this are a great place to start—you won’t just give back, you will grow.

“I didn’t really know what to expect or didn’t really think much of what I should expect. I was surprised with Henan. You can still feel traditions you can’t easily grasp in the big cities. People are friendly, open and very curious. Our students were always playing with huge bugs, which made me smile a lot.”