Li Ting is a worker of the VSM, a technical manufacturing company in Zhuhai. She left home for a living four years ago when she graduated from junior high school and seldom had a chance to come back to her family and friends ever since - a typical case among the many young workers that form the labor force in the manufacturing industry in the booming southeast region. "I have been here for 4 years, I miss my hometown very much." She said.
Li Ting and her fellow workers were the service targets of the UIC youth service volunteers, who had been to the VSM for seven times during the semester offering dancing, martial arts and English classes. The workers welcomed the volunteers heartily. They were eager and quick learners. After several classes, they could already put on wonderful performance for their colleagues. "I hope the students come as many as possible. They are very kind-hearted and friendly. We get along well with them. They taught us many new things." said Li Ting.
Nov. 24 was the date of the last youth service at VSM of the semester. Besides the usual games and classes, a party was held at seven in the evening to celebrate the friendship between the volunteers and the workers. Singing, nunchakus performance, guitar performance, laugh and applause, the evening in the entertainment room was heated up.
"We are all young. We have the potential to change our life for the better. Thanks to all the volunteers from UIC. They light up our hope for a blooming life in the future." said a worker who just sung a song in the party.
Youth service is part of the voluntary program UIC organized for the sophomores, the other parts including environmental service, senior service and children's service. Though a compulsory program, students took it willingly. Wang Qian, an accounting major who was the MC of the evening party said, "This is the first time I have ever closely communicated with workers at my age. I learnt to observe and understand the society from a different perspective. I feel more responsibility lying on my shoulder."
Thomas Kilian, Whole Person Education Officer of UIC, said, "We organize students to serve the workers not only because the workers are so young that they need love and help, but also because our students can learn from it. That's very important. Though, there are still some problems, such as that our students feel a little shy to talk to the workers, they put their heart and soul to serve!" He said they will continue to organize similar programs, offering more opportunities for the students serve the community, bringing more happiness and hope to other members of the society.
Student Journalist: Candy Zhou
Photo Journalist: Wang Yuan
Editor: Christy Zhao/ Cheryl Chen
Media and Communication Center
