XIANG XI Travel Log
From 21 to 26 September 2015, managers of IRD Harvest and director of Hillgo, an eco farm company, took me to see rural development projects in Bao Jing and Mu Li of Feng Huang.
We visited 4 schools, one hospital, one goat farm and a centre for the elderly in Bao Jing, a poverty county. We were impressed by IRD Harvest’s persistent work, and growing services for the farmers，the elderly, the sick, and the left behind children in the rural areas.
The trip opened my eyes to the needs of the rural areas and we were all moved by the strenuous hard work of the staff and supporters of IRD Harvest.
21 September
Stony unfinished road
Arrived at Huai Hua High Speed Train Terminal. Then Mag and her brother drove us to Hillgo. It was nearly 10.00p.m. when we arrived at Mu Li Village. We walked through the village path and then an unfinished road with gravel stones for 20 minutes before coming to Hillgo. We were so glad that our smart phones’ torch function shone our way through.
Mag told me that the road was originally more than one meter wide and well cemented, but was damaged, because the government was rebuilding and widening the road. Since early 2014, the slopes on the road side were ‘peeled’, and the cement surface was gone. Construction stopped for a year. In mid July, cobbles were delivered to cover the surface.
From 22 to 26, the whole week was wet, raining. Walking on the cobbled muddy road was near mission impossible to me. The rugged stones hurt my old knees and ankles. In three spots, where there were mini ‘landslides’, anytime I could fell down in the muddy pool.
22 September
Mag took me to visit her old schools - Mu Li Kindergarten and Mu Li Comprehensive Primary School.
The kindergarten is near the government offices. It used to be a junior secondary school. Only the ground floor was used now. There were three classes, about 80 students. Facilities were far from adequate: one 24-inch television, a blackboard, chairs and desks. There was one indoor play room and one room for art work. Students outdoor activities in the corridor.
MU Li Primary School has 8 classes, 400 students. This is a public school, providing over 100 boarding places for children living far away. The school principal is experienced, but newly assigned to this school. The campus is well maintained and kept clean. There are a school library, computer room and a newly furbished Reading Room, donated by a Hong Kong Charity, ‘Reading Dream Foundation Limited’.
The colours of this room signifies transformation of the school, moving from the traditional grey of cement to a colourful learning environment, with input of concepts from Hong Kong.
The school principal and senior teachers showed great hospitality to me and Mag. They invited us to lunch at a riverside restaurant in Ji Xin with some local friends.
On hearing my suggestions about upgrading the classroom facilities - installing projectors, visualises and computers in every classroom and special room, they foresaw hope. What impressed me most was their response to my offer to help a bit with English reading and science curriculum with focus on experiential learning about the environment and eco-farming. They said, “Let’s take our students to try working in your eco-farm. We have 劳动实践课！” I dare say the principal of this school has the insight of an educator. He knows his business.
For details, please refer to my blog article on 30 September 2015.
23 September
We arrived at the best secondary school, Ming Zhu Zhong Xue at 8.30. In front of the school were display boards showing in handwritten black ink characters on traditional Chinese red paper the students’ examination scores and university admission information. These were their achievements.
The school has 5000 students, and over 2000 boarding places. Construction works were in heated progress: new academic building, new activity center, new science and technology education centre, new cultural gallery, and a new school entrance. Where does the money for these projects come from? “They were mostly donations from alumni, and local people, some from overseas like Hong Kong. The alumni love their alma mata, and some who have got rich help the school.”
“I am an old student of this school too. I used to be principal of a private college, earning more than 20,000 RMB a month. But I chose to help our dear old school develop and thrive, so I came here 5 years ago. I am earning about 5000 RMB a month now. It is a great financial loss, but seeing my school emerging as a top rank secondary school providing the best education for students, I feel very happy and have a great sense of achievement,” said Principal Peng.
Our next stop was Bao Jing Experimental Primary School. The campus is relatively small, about 13,000 square metres but accommodating 3000 students. The school was well managed and very clean and tidy. The school is much advantaged with the Education Department Office located inside the school campus. The school is professionally supported by university and the Education Department. Teaching research projects and teacher training helped to raise the teaching effectiveness of the school. We observed an English lesson and had a fruitful sharing with the English subject head. She was a leader and the ED was nurturing her to become an expert teacher. She has joined an English improvement action group which comprises leader teachers from different schools of Bao Jing. In response to my suggestion about using video lessons and picture books, the school head proposes that a library be built in their community- sharing resources between the school and the public.
A hospital in the mountains
Institute or Rural Development Harvest built a hospital for mountain villagers in 2013. The donations came from Hong Kong and the building was designed by professors from City University of Hong Kong. The hospital provides more than 50 beds and prevention of infectious diseases as well as post stroke rehabilitation programs. Most of the patients are the elderly villagers.
24 September
Today we visited two village schools in Bao Jing outskirts. One was Fu Xing grade1-9, and the other Da Tall Middle School. To our surprise, we found the most advanced education technology in the classrooms - interactive white boards and LED panel. In both schools the English teaching teams were large and the school heads emphasised the importance of learning English to their students’ future. The principal at Fu Xing was aggressive and straight forward. He had a team of 16 English teacher for the 900 students. The English team members were young and keen to learn.
After seeing these 4 schools, I would say the IRD Harvest’s English teacher training programmes which started in 2007 had reaped positive results.
A goat farm deep in the mountains
In the afternoon, we drove to a steep V-shape valley. The farm was standing alone by a brook. The farmer lived in a one storey brick house, and the goats live in the modern goat house. The farm owner had a family. His wife and children lived in the city, but he wanted to try goat farming. He valued the quality of water and the wild grass and food his goats eat in this part of the country. He just started his project about two years ago and he did not yet have much knowledge about the marketing part of his business. He had a workmate and two of them worked pretty hard to make the farm grow. Their target was to make the place a tourist spot where visitors could have fun with fishing and other farm work.
A community centre for the elderly in a Tu Jia Zhu village. IRD Harvest manages the centre which was launched this summer. It has more than 80 members. The centre provides reading, recreation, and lunch services for the members.
