Just past this Children's Day, UNITAR CIFAL Hubei joined hands with Nanjing Inspiration Sunshine Heart Public Welfare Foundation to organize a meaningful public welfare trip. This activity is not only a field visit and research on four schools in Xiaoxin Street Township, Yuanyang County, Yunnan Province, but also a practice of the goal of Quality Education in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through in-depth research and first hand experience, we want to bring more care and support to the left-behind children in these mountains. Whether the practice can be successful or just a bubble depends on the various sectors of society working together.

Arrived two days in advance, apprehensive yet hopeful

Boredom, depression, nothing else to learn about but the "main course" - is the information of these preliminary surveys true?

A preparatory meeting with the principals

In the early morning, we held the first important team meeting in a conference room at Z Primary School. The school principals participating in this visit attached great importance and attended on time.

Yuanyang Hani terraces

While exploring the children's living environment in advance, we met an enthusiastic little girl who ran after us to share snacks.

Education is not only in schools; children's growth cannot be separated from the living environment. Yuanyang not only has "Hani Terraces," but also ordinary streets and villages. The former affects tourists, while the latter is the real life of the local people.

A bonfire party with the kids

After the meeting, the enthusiastic principal and the children of Yuan Yang organized a bonfire party to welcome our arrival and performed ethnic dances.

A child's smile is the most healing

During the talent show, the children welcomed us, the guests who came from afar, with their smiles and enthusiasm. We not only saw the children's diverse talents but also felt their love for life and their aspirations for the future. Despite the difficult conditions, they still maintained an optimistic attitude and expressed their longing for a better life in their way.

Through the bonfire, we further understood the situation of the school and the daily lives of the children, which not only gave us a deeper understanding of the upcoming charity activities but also established a preliminary connection with the children.

Late night preparation: Distribute supplies

After the party ended, it was late at night, but our work was far from over. Back at the accommodation, the team members began to organize and distribute the supplies for the children. These supplies included school bags, stationery, some small prizes, as well as gifts carefully selected by volunteers from all over the country for the children. Everyone was busy packing and categorizing, ensuring that each item of supplies would reach the children accurately.

The more we prepared, the more excited we became. Suddenly, it was past 3 a.m., and after a brief sleep of just over 2 hours, we set off early the next morning to "go to school."

Visiting schools, discovering the children's needs

The first stop of this public welfare trip was S Hope Primary School. As it was Children's Day, a special ceremony was held here - the Young Pioneers' admission and award ceremony. The morning sun shone like hope for the future on the innocent faces of the children. The ceremony was simple yet solemn, and the sight of the flag-raising team stepping onto the platform and shouting slogans was solemn and touching.

After the flag-raising ceremony, the admission ceremony followed. A group of little children recited the admission oath with a focused and hopeful expression. This was a sacred moment for them to join the Young Pioneers.

After the admission ceremony, an award ceremony for outstanding students was held. The teachers announced the names of the award-winning students one by one, and the children went on stage to receive their awards. Each awarded child received an exquisite certificate and a practical learning tool. This not only affirmed their hard work in the past year but also motivated them to continue striving for the future.

The flag-raising ceremony, admission ceremony, and outstanding student award ceremony are all important moments in the children's growth journey. Each ceremony is an encouragement and expectation for their future, enabling them to bravely pursue their dreams and grow up in the embrace of love.

Cultural and sports facilities are badly damaged

After the ceremony, the principal of S Primary School took us on a tour of the school, giving a detailed introduction to the school's current situation: the facilities are simple, and the equipment and teaching staff are very scarce.

The second stop was H Hope Primary School. Here, from the playground, one could see continuous green mountains and the blue sky and white clouds. This beautiful place is a paradise for children's sports and games. We spent an unforgettable time with the children here.

In the embrace of this natural beauty, we brought frisbees -sports equipment that was both new and fun for the children. When we demonstrated the frisbees, the children's eyes sparkled with curiosity and excitement. They gathered around us, eager to try.

It is said that all human beings have a common wish, to fly freely. In the frisbee game, from the gleam in the children's eyes, we could feel that although these children were encountering a frisbee for the first time, their desire to soar freely and grow naturally was no different from that of any other person in the world. Combined with the mountains, water, and terraces of Yuanyang, this longing for flight feels even more real and poignant.

H Primary School students dance show

In this school, there is a teacher who loves dancing, set up a "little dance team", and won the first place in the county competetion. The headmaster specially prepared such a surprise for us, and let the children show us a moving dance. The volunteers were moved by the children's hard work and excellent dancing.

Why? ! Brand-new equipment, props, and they don't let the kids play?

Finally, we arrived at the third stop, Z Primary School. Although the school has relatively good conditions in all aspects, with complete teaching facilities, during the visit, we discovered a forgotten corner -a room filled with donated items. There were various toys and sports equipment stored here, but it was regrettable that these items, which were originally intended to bring joy and help to the children, were only quietly gathering dust. Most of these donated items were kind-hearted donations from people from all walks of life, with a wide variety, including stuffed toys, building blocks, and game tables. However, due to the lack of teaching staff and a lack of corresponding activity organization, these toys and stationery were not fully utilized.

We realized that teaching/playing materials are the foundation, and the mentors are the soul of the learning process. We hope that besides material donations, we can also recruit some volunteer teachers in the future to revive these forgotten corners and allow the children to learn through play and grow in their studies.

The wishes of the girls

In this public welfare trip, we particularly focused on the lives and learning conditions of left-behind children, especially the girls. We interviewed 6 children and 4 teachers at the school, and visited the homes of 6 girls. During the interviews and home visits, we met many strong girls. Their wishes were simple and innocent, focusing more on their parents and the school than on themselves. However, the living conditions they faced were very harsh, which deeply touched the heart of every volunteer.

The volunteer was deeply moved during the interview

For example, Xiaomei (pseudonym) is a fifth-grade student, and her wish is for her mother to be healthy and no longer exhausted from hard work. She hopes that the school will have more teachers and more teaching equipment so that she and her classmates can study better.

Qinqin (pseudonym) hopes that the school can be equipped with new electronic whiteboards, so that teachers can teach more easily, and she and her classmates can better understand the course content. Another wish of hers is for her mother to have the opportunity to take a set of wedding photos, which has been her long-cherished wish.

The appalling living conditions in the girls' home

During the interviews and home visits, the volunteers saw many scenes that were heart-wrenching: dilapidated houses, simple furniture, a lack of modern living facilities at home, and even a severe lack of basic necessities. Seeing this, each and every one of us couldn't help but shed tears. We deeply understand that these children need not only material help, but also psychological care and spiritual support. Compared to the lack of material, we can feel even more keenly that they are extremely eager to be loved and cared for. Because during the home visits, even a simple comforting word could bring tears to the children's eyes when they responded. All of this made us feel heavy-hearted, but it also strengthened our determination to continue to help them.

This experience of the interviews and home visits not only allowed us to see the difficulties faced by children in remote areas, but also made us more determined about the mission and goals of the public welfare trip. In the future, UNITAR CIFAL Hubei will continue to focus on the growth and development of these children, joining hands with more caring individuals and organizations to create a better and more hopeful future for them. Please pay attention to our follow-up activities!

United Nations Sustainable Development Education Board Game Activity

In this public welfare trip, UNITAR CIFAL Hubei brought a board game activity with the theme of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Through the game, the children learned about the core content of SDGs, especially the goals of no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, and gender equality. In the interactive questions and answer session, the children's enthusiasm was fully mobilized, and the classroom atmosphere was very lively.

The United Nations, sustainable development goals, names, and concepts are very unfamiliar to many children. Under Teacher Ku's explanation, the children learned that the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals aim to make people's lives and the Earth better. Then, playing games further enabled them to understand the specific advocacy of sustainable development goals.

In the subsequent board game session, the children were divided into groups to play the game, with each group having its pieces and board. There were multiple knowledge question areas designed on the board, covering various goals of SDGs. Whenever a piece moved to a question area, the children needed to draw a knowledge Q&A card and answer the question on the card. Through this method, the children gradually deepened their understanding and cognition of the sustainable development goals during the game.

Teacher Ku specially designed many questions related to the children's lives during the course. For example, questions about the "no poverty" goal would involve the definition and impact of poverty and how one can escape poverty through education and skills training. Questions about the "zero hunger" goal would discuss the importance of food security, healthy eating habits, and how to reduce food waste.

During the interaction, the children not only learned knowledge through the game but were also encouraged to express their thoughts and insights. When answering questions about the "good health and well-being" goal, some children shared their views on happiness. It turned out that for them, happiness is as simple as celebrating a birthday or eating hot pot.

To further inspire the children's enthusiasm, the board game activity also set up a rich reward mechanism. Each group that answered a question correctly would receive some lovely prizes, such as stationery and books. These small rewards not only allowed the children to experience a sense of accomplishment in the game but also increased their interest and enthusiasm for learning. The children participated actively in the Q&A as a group, and through teamwork, they completed tasks. This not only exercised their ability to work together but also enhanced their sense of collective honor.

This board game activity was not only warmly welcomed by the children in class but also sparked their sustained attention to the SDGs after class. Many children expressed their hope for more opportunities to participate in similar activities to further understand and practice the concept of sustainable development.

Through this fun and educational method, we not only spread the idea of sustainable development but also injected new impetus into the future development of the children. In the future, UNITAR CIFAL Hubei will continue to explore and implement similar educational activities to help more children understand sustainable development goals and apply them to their learning and lives.

Yuan Yang Cultural Experience and Food Tour

In addition to visits and research, we also experienced the local culture and cuisine. Hiking in the primeval forest, visiting the Hani terraces, and tasting authentic redrice noodles allowed us to feel the unique charm of Yuanyang, Yunnan deeply.

The Honghe Hani Rice Terraces is a grand spectacle of terraced farming civilization created by the Hani people and other ethnic groups taking advantage of the special geographical climate, with a magnificent scale. On June 22, 2013, at the 37th World Heritage Congress, the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces were successfully listed inthe World Heritage List and became the 45th World Heritage site in China.

Promise or Bubble？

This public welfare trip has made us realize that the so-called "quality education" is lacking in rural primary schools. Some have materials, but no one to teach them, so the children do not know how to use them; some materials are worn out. Implementing is more important than donating! We are thinking about the action after the prelude, how to ensure that children can "play" and use happiness to cultivate their physical and mental health.

The answer lies in thinking, please continue to pay attention to us and help us to provide advice and guidance.