After visiting Basha Primary School in Congjiang, Guizhou Province in 2019, Choi Kai Yau College (CKYC) of the University of Macau (UM) continues to support the school with donations during the three years of pandemic. A group of 20 staff and students from the college visited Basha Primary School in Congjiang for a one-week service learning program on May 21, 2023. Students have exercised their community service capabilities and enhanced their leadership, teamwork, and social responsibility skills through this volunteer teaching experience.
At Basha Primary School, participants from CKYC taught during the day and conducted debriefings every night. Teaching pedagogy and content were actively exchanged and discussed, as well as continuously optimized and improved. CKYC students also engaged in active communication with Primary School teachers to gain a better understanding of their students, in an effort to maximize learning outcomes. Furthermore, CKYC students have brought rich and diverse teaching models and interesting knowledge to school children, such as scientific experiments, Macau culture, psychological health, etc. It provides primary school children with a new educational experience, while CKYC students are able to further reflect on educational, cultural, and social issues. As well as teaching primary school students knowledge and broadening their horizons, this service learning program enabled university students to develop a deeper understanding of social observation. Both sides benefit greatly.
A talent show was held on the last day of voluntary teaching to celebrate upcoming Children’s Day on June 1st by staff and students from CKYC and Basha Primary School. Laughter and joy filled the air as everyone sang and danced together once again, feeling Miao people’s singing and dancing abilities as well as their warm hospitality. As CKYC’s service learning program came to an end, the staff and students of CKYC took pictures with primary school students, exchanged farewell words, and took pictures with primary school students together. Several college students said that they plan on returning next year and hope that this program can continue.
According to Kuang Siyuan, a senior student in the voluntary teaching group: “We are teachers who have not yet been worn down by reality. We met children who have not yet been worn down by reality. Everything became full of passion and unforgettable.”
Li Dongling, a freshman, said: “I enjoyed the service learning project at Basha Primary School, despite my hoarse throat. I loved every minute in the classroom. It will make them feel appreciated and favored if I can bring them something.”
One freshman student, Ye Haoqi, said: “Honestly, we have no way of bringing them a great deal of knowledge in one week.” Nevertheless, when we accompany them on a service learning project for a week, we have already introduced them to the outside world and given them more opportunities in the future.”
Written By: Wang Xiaosai, Kuang Siyuan
CKYC presented souvenirs and donated items to the Principal of Basha Primary School
CKYC student instructed the Basha Primary School students on their English homework
CKYC student introduced the culture of Macao to the primary school students
CKYC students guided the primary school students to use the optical microscope
CKYC students instructed the primary school students on how to make a simple telescope with convex and concave lenses
CKYC students delivered interesting mathematics class
Singing class by the CKYC student for Basha Primary School students
The sixth grade students of Basha Primary School performed the traditional Chinese folk dance to celebrate the Children’s Day
The forth grade students of Basha Primary School performed the song “岜沙小學是這樣” composed by CKYC student
Group photo after the celebration of Children’s Day
CKYC staff and students had daily reflection meeting every night
CKYC staff and students experienced the gunner tribe culture in Basha
Students from Basha Primary School and UM gave each other parting words