Ten Years of Teaching-Assistance to Guard Their Dreams of Youth These College Students are Spreading Positive Energy with Love

       “The children put together not only the model of the Yellow Crane Tower and other landmarks with their hands, but also their aspirations for a better life in the future.” On July 23, at Liujiahui Nine-Year School in Linxian County, Lvliang City, Shanxi Province, more than 130 children were concentrating on assembling their first set of building blocks under the guidance of young volunteers, including 17 college students from Keeping Dream Teaching-Assistance Association of China University of Geosciences (Wuhan). This is the scene of the art festival jointly held by the children and Keeping Dream Teaching-Assistance Association. During the three-week teaching period, in addition to regular classes, they will hold three major festivals of music, sports and art to accompany the children to spend a full and meaningful vacation. They have been carrying out such teaching-assistance activities in Linxian County for ten years.

　　Ten years ago, they struggled to develop in difficulties

　　“Do something for the children in our hometown”. In 2012, this simple idea drove several Shanxi college students studying at China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) to take the lead in establishing the Keeping Dream Teaching-Assistance Association. After careful preparation, more than 40 members of the association embarked on their first teaching-assistance trip in July 2013. Although the environment was tough, such as pumping water in the kitchen by opening the electric switch, cooking with a pot stove burning charcoal, sleeping on the floor, and riding more than ten kilometers to class, it did not stop the pace of teaching-assistance association, on the contrary, more and more students from other provinces joined the team to teach in Shanxi. 

　　With the development of the team, the teaching method gradually changed from simple teaching materials to more and more colorful. Students from the Department of Geology talked about earth science, students from the Department of Machinery brought out robots, and students from the Taekwondo Club formed a training team. Ding Yufeng, the instructor of the Association, said, "In the ten-year relay of love, Keeping Dream Teaching-Assistance Association has recruited more than 300 volunteers and accumulated more than 50,000 volunteer hours, accompanying the growth time of more than 1,500 children."

　　Ten years of destiny gathering, they make each other perfect

　　In order to ensure that the children can get home safely, the members always insist on escorting the children home every day. Once, the rainstorm in the mountain suddenly hit, and the road was covered with loess; a little girl in the charge of Li Zhongxin, a member of the team, lived in a neighboring village, she didn't say a word on the long road, but walked forward with her teacher's clothes tightly. After sending her to her parents, she looked down and saw that her upper body was covered with rain and her lower body was covered with mud, while the corners of her clothes were dry. Li Zhongxin said, “When someone needs me, I have to stand up. That small corner of clothing is the source of strength for me to continue to struggle.” Team leader Wei Shili once led a junior high school student who was very tired of studying. During the home visit, she found that it was caused by his complicated family reasons. She immediately mobilized the teachers of the whole team to help him, gradually helping him get out of the shadow and regain confidence.

　　In the teaching-assistance team, many members have made an agreement with the children. If they can successfully enter China University of Geosciences, they will also go to graduate school, just to be able to wait for them at CUG. “Contemporary young college students actively respond to the call and wait for each other, urge each other and help each other with the children.” Yu Xiaozhou, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Mechanical Engineering and Electronic Information of China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), talked about.

　　They grow into something bigger during the ten years of fate

　　“I am also from Liujiahui town. As your fellow villager, I sincerely hope that you can get out of the mountains and see the outside world through studying.” Zhang Rui, a member of the team and a student of Grade 2021 from CUG, inspired the students with his story in the classroom. In 2021, Zhang Rui, who had just finished his college entrance exams, witnessed the story of the Keeping Dream at Liujiahui Elementary School. “If I can reach the score line, I will also apply for China University of Geosciences and join the team.” Zhang Rui was deeply impressed and resolutely chose China University of Geosciences. “Joining the teaching-assistance team not only help the children in my hometown realize their dreams, but also realized my dream of the summer vacation after my college entrance exams.” Zhang Rui said.

　　Keeping Dream carries not only the youthful dreams of more than 300 members like Zhang Rui, but also the fervent concern of the community for the rural children. The School of Mechanical Engineering and Electronic Information of China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) sends teachers to guide the teaching-assistance affairs every year, Shanxi Chamber of Commerce of Hubei Province provides various support every year, the Liujiahui Village Committee guarantees the life of the teaching-assistance team, and the social media pays great attention to the activities of the team and reports on them.