江西支教活动是全美华人文化教育基金会旗下的 青少年爱心俱乐部发起的一项温暖而独特的暑假中美文化交流项目。
该活动最早由基金会理事曾永煌先生，和家乡江西省会昌县小密乡家庭留守儿童乐园创办人，当地的热心义工廖祖彬先生在2017完成第一次跨洋支教活动。由于该活动深受当地孩子们欢迎，自活动创办以来每年暑假（除疫情中的三年里）都有基金会和YCC的义工学生和家长们组队前往祖彬留守儿童成长乐园为当地的小朋友进行为期两个星期的英语教学和文化交流活动，并探访当地有需要的贫困学生，为他们寻找学习资助。
祖彬留守儿童成长乐园长期为没有父母陪伴的留守儿童们提供平时周末的作业辅导和兴趣课程，我们支教队的到来不仅解决了孩子们一部分的暑期去处问题，也极大地丰富了他们的暑期生活。每年我们的支教队员由圣地亚哥不同初高中的8-12年级的学生们自愿组成，行前会用中文和英文备课准备教案，练习授课内容，准备教材教具和每日家庭作业。每个队员都会经历一次有意义的旅行，通过参加一些活动和跟当地孩子们的互动和了解和学习当地文化，品尝特色美食，一起干农活并和当地的小朋友结下难忘的友情。
2020年开始，因受疫情影响，改为网上暑假授课三年。2023年7月8日，由7位学生和6位家长组成的支教在疫情后再度前往小密乡，恢复了这项爱心活动。2024年7月9日更有十名学生和七位家长参加了这项交流活动。2024年支教队第一次给当地学生带去了乐高机器人课程，还给孩子们带去了第一次的匹克球体验，这对同学们来说真是一场非常兴奋的旅程；而这些第一次接触机器人与当下最时兴运动的乡村孩子们，眼里闪烁出了好奇的光芒。而志愿者们也从他们纯真的笑容中，读懂了跨越语言的爱与信任。
2025年我们计划继续前往小密乡，欢迎想要参加的同学们加入！
志愿者同学还在旅行结束之后，写下了自己感想。
In the summer of 2024, I, along with a group of other volunteers, went to a small rural community in China called Xiaomi to tutor local students in English. The trip was unforgettable; I made new friends, partook in fun activities, and embraced Chinese culture. For that 14-day stay, our group fell into a sort of routine: get up, walk to the school, teach, break for lunch, teach again, rest, dinner, and a nighttime planning session for the next day. But, just because our days were structured didn’t mean we were bored. Our trip was supplemented with enjoyable experiences like hiking, cutting rice, making rice cakes, and many more events that enhanced our understanding of Chinese culture. However, it’s impossible to forget about the most important event of all: the teaching. This was the most enjoyable adventure on the trip, as we taught to, learned from, and bonded with kids whose lives were so drastically different from ours. Overall, it was an extremely magical and educational visit. But, for me, the trip was not without its challenges.
One major hurdle I faced during our stay in Xiaomi was the challenge of not being fluent in Chinese. My Chinese, although conversational, was not nuanced enough to teach a class in foreign language. Needless to say, I was not going to be able to teach well with my Chinese skills alone. So, I pulled out all the stops. I had been tutoring English to students in China through our computers for years prior to the trip and knew how to make my class engaging and effective. I used this skill to the fullest extent possible, leading the class in debates and word games. Throughout the trip, my Chinese also improved in leaps and bounds, enabling me to understand more and more of the native language.So, even though my Chinese language skills might not have been enough to get me through the China trip, I was able to lean on past experience and ultimately be a successful teacher.
In short, throughout our group’s visit to China, I was able to enjoy many fun experiences, improve my Chinese, and take part in an amazing cultural exchange, all while making friends. I had a great time on this trip, and I’m sure future groups will, too.
–Max
This is the start of an essay chronicling the routine everyday life that we, as student teachers in Xiaomi, experienced as part of our 2024 summer trip. In the mornings, we would all wake up, go eat breakfast, walk the mile or so to the school (often in 90+ degree weather), and then teach the kids. After 4-5 hours of education, we’d walk home for some limited leisure and preparations for the next day. This trip certainly wasn’t your average vacation; one might see fit to call it work even. So why would we do this? Why would we willingly endure such discomfort and hardship for virtually no gain besides experience? The answer, of course, is that the experiences that we gained are far more valuable than other superficial vacations. Not only did we get exposure to unique experiences like teaching, traveling to a foreign country like China fosters personal growth and resilience. Navigating unfamiliar environments, adapting to new customs, and overcoming language barriers help build problem-solving skills and self-reliance. As budding adults, it’s our responsibility to learn more about our world in order to understand and empathize with others.
One of the most important experiences that we gained from this was insight into the lives of others in different social and economic situations. As this was a rural area, most students weren’t wealthy; some of our students had to work in the fields after school to help support their families. Recognizing our own privileged station in life was a humbling, yet infinitely valuable reminder and realization.
So to anyone considering it. Let me restate that a summer trip to China is more than just a vacation—it’s an enriching journey that combines cultural immersion, historical exploration, and personal development. The experiences gained from such a trip leave a lasting impact, shaping travelers into more culturally aware, adaptable, and knowledgeable individuals. For anyone seeking adventure, learning, and growth, China is a destination worth exploring.
–Alex