力行植林慈善基金會

Reflection for English Summer School at Dong Shan (Figo Man)

Please let me tell you something before you appreciate my wonderful experience with those amicable children in Dong Shan . Before I visited this Dong Shan manor, I was no good at treasuring my time and resources that I had in my past, but luckily I have the opportunity to go to Dong Shan to learn a lesson.

I can still clearly remember how welcome I felt at the minute I got off the mini bus by the children, jumping onto my shoulder like brothers, grappling my hand tightly like friends, all the actions seem to me that we have been knowing each others for decays! You will never find children in urban areas with this passionate between unknown people, but in here, no matter you are old or new, tall or short , there will never be a barrel between people, in fact there is no distance between me and the kids.

Everyday teaching was a challenging event, teaching them the alphabets in the beginning and end up teaching them dialogues, was a huge progress especially when their resources are limited, unlike the urbanized us who have everything that we needed ,such as a simple mobile dictionary. Playing with them after school was nothing more than I hope, their invigorating smile while we played basketball could lit up a whole dead garden.

Throughout this expedition, not only the children gained more knowledge, but also I did. Being a teacher or a mentor in front of them gave me more responsibilities in order to set up a role for them allowing them to follow in the future, you might think that is something special, meaningful.Actually this is just a daily thing,which should be done by everyone, but nowadays many people seem to forget to behave in front of their next generation which leads to boundless consequences.

I must say there were massive differences between the expectation and the reality after I been on Dong Shan myself, Dong Shan children are really lucky to have 力行to setup a library for them to go to for help also as a home. Despite they can study in their second home, where they live is a melancholy place to sleep in, while my visitation to many children home, I can feel the danger they are living in, afraid of wind which will blow the tile down, afraid of cattle stolen away which cost them a lot . This is when I started to reflect and appreciate how comfort I am throughout my life.

After all, I would like to thanks 力行 to give me this priceless experience with Dong Shan children to live, play and study together, not only gave me a chance to do something meaningful but also the chance to know different people ,learn from them and one thing I learned and will remember for centuries was to treasure my time and my resources.