Light through the peaks: 25 Years of teaching hope in Zhaojue

Since 2000, groups of Zhejiang University graduates have traveled to Zhaojue County in Sichuan Province to dedicate one year to volunteer teaching and poverty alleviation. Over the past 25 years, their commitment and devotion have left a profound mark on this land.

Zhaojue, located in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan, lies deep in the mountains, with a harsh climate and barren soil. Conditions in the early years were extremely tough. SONG Bingchen, a member of the fourth Graduate Teaching Support Group, recalled "When we first arrived in Jiefanggou, Zhaojue, there were no restaurants or shops along the road. If we didn’t cook for a day, there was nothing to eat. Several of us had to buy a week’s worth of food at once and take turns preparing breakfast, lunch, and dinner."

Facing the educational challenges posed by such a difficult environment, the volunteers actively mobilized social resources. They personally delivered batches of stationery, textbooks, and desks to children in village preschools, while also helping to build new classrooms and distribute winter clothing in rural areas.

Over the past 25 years, the teaching support groups have raised more than 30 million yuan in donations and materials for Zhaojue. These contributions have supported the construction of local primary schools, suspension bridges, and other infrastructure, making classrooms brighter, roads wider, and children happier. Returning to Zhaojue years later, a former volunteer was moved to see "children running on the basketball court, brand-new classrooms filled with sunlight, and a variety of new courses—such progress is truly heartwarming."

The arrival of the teaching groups has not only improved educational facilities but also planted seeds of aspiration in the hearts of children. TANG Yuting, a member of the 25th Graduate Teaching Support Group, shared: “We hope children will not be confined to textbooks, but will be encouraged to explore subjects that interest them.” Partnering with multiple departments of Zhejiang University, the group has introduced extracurricular courses in science, engineering, agriculture, and medicine, while also providing career planning guidance to help students envision their future paths.

To address students’ weak academic foundations, volunteers carefully design lesson plans and adopt teaching methods closely tied to local life. For example, when teaching the concept of "work" in physics, since students had never seen a range hood, volunteers explained it using local examples such as stoves, diesel trucks, and tractors. This made the concept more accessible and encouraged active participation. ZHU Yiwei, one of the volunteers, explained "Students often struggle with reading comprehension in Chinese, so I try to use straightforward language in class and then spend extra time after class working through exam questions with them to improve their understanding."

Over the years, the program has reached hundreds of thousands of students, many of whom have become pillars of the local community. JIHE Ergu, now a math teacher in Zhaojue, recalled being a student taught by the eighth teaching group. "I still remember my teacher clearly and the lessons he taught me," he said.

Beyond the classroom, the volunteers organize study tours, extracurricular activities, and everyday exchanges to broaden students’ horizons. After one field trip, a student wrote in her diary, "I want to study hard, leave the mountains, and see the wider world." Standing beneath the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai, student QUMU Ciha told his volunteer teacher, "Back in Liangshan, only important people can come to Shanghai. I want to study hard, leave the mountains, and return to build my hometown into a place just as beautiful as the outside world—then I'll invite you all to visit."

Although 25 years have passed, the teaching groups' original mission—"to spend one short year doing something unforgettable for life"—remains unchanged. This spirit has been passed down through generations of volunteers. In 2020, a university student who had once been taught by the 17th teaching group left a comment on social media, "Thank you to my volunteer teacher. Now I am also a university student, and after graduation I plan to join the Western Program. Wherever the motherland needs me, that will be my home." Such stories continue to unfold, as one generation after another of Zhejiang University students are inspired to serve with dedication, spreading warmth and hope.

Adapted and translated from the article written by YU Jiaxin
Translator: ZHENG Shaoyan ('26, Law)
Photo:the interviewees
Editor:HE Jiawen, TIAN Minjie