A gesture of kindness can warm the corners of a soul; vast mountains and rivers can carry boundless hope. As George Eliot once said, “What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?” On this land, there are still many children yearning for knowledge. True ICSO volunteers walk the path of helping them, sowing seeds of love through their actions, nurturing their growth and dreams. May every volunteer not only teach in the classroom but also ignite the infinite possibilities in children’s hearts with selfless love.
ICSO Outstanding Volunteer
Profile
Name: Yu Wen
University: The University of Hong Kong
Major: Education
Affiliation: ICSO·CN (China Division)
While studying in Hong Kong, Yu Wen often reflected on how he could give back to his homeland beyond his academic achievements. Though he lived abroad, his heart remained closely tied to the education and development of his hometown. Motivated by this deep sense of purpose, Yu Wen actively sought opportunities to contribute during every school break when he returned to China.
When he learned about ICSO’s project “One Book, One Heart”, which is dedicated to supporting children in impoverished mountain areas, he didn’t hesitate to join. Yu Wen traveled with the team to several rural primary schools. On one occasion, they visited the home of a left-behind child named Xiaomai. Xiaomai was only nine years old, living in a rundown cottage in a remote village. The walls were peeling, the roof leaked in places, and the dimly lit interior was sparsely furnished. Xiaomai’s parents had been working far from home for years, leaving him in the care of his elderly grandfather. The house contained only a few tattered textbooks and worn pencils. Under a flickering kerosene lamp, Xiaomai focused intently on his homework, surrounded by award certificates proudly pinned on the walls. Yu Wen was deeply moved by the boy’s mix of anticipation and shyness.
Xiaomai’s grandfather was frail and the family’s financial situation dire. When the volunteer team spoke with them, they learned that beyond financial hardship, the greatest challenge was the severe lack of educational resources. Though Xiaomai consistently ranked first in his class, the school struggled to retain good teachers—particularly in subjects like English, which the children had never been formally taught.
As an education major, Yu Wen made a bold decision: to temporarily take on the role of Xiaomai’s English teacher until a permanent one could be found. He fully leveraged his expertise to provide the children with foundational English education. Yu Wen designed a creative and engaging curriculum that included interactive games, language-based songs, and storytelling to make learning fun and immersive. He also introduced international teaching methods, giving the children a rare opportunity to experience different cultures and learning styles.
Beyond patiently guiding the students in class, Yu Wen prepared supplemental exercise books and study materials to help them reinforce their knowledge. Alongside his teammates, he organized extracurricular activities such as drawing contests, arts and crafts, and simple science experiments—encouraging creativity and sparking imagination. These activities enriched the children’s lives while boosting their confidence and sense of teamwork.
After school, Yu Wen often stayed to play basketball with the children, talk with them, and learn more about their personal stories and hardships. Many of them lived in extremely difficult conditions, facing not only poverty but also a lack of basic resources like food and education.
In the final days of the volunteer program, Yu Wen and his team quietly prepared a surprise for the children: a collection of books and cartons of milk. They paid special attention to the children’s reading needs, carefully selecting age-appropriate books ranging from classic fairy tales to fun science books, hoping to spark their curiosity and love for learning.
To ensure the donations truly reached those in need, Yu Wen and the team personally distributed the supplies to each child. They also made sure each child received a nutritious portion of milk to help improve their diet. Through these tangible efforts, they hoped to ease the children’s hardships and deliver genuine warmth and care.
After the project concluded, Yu Wen wrote in a social media post:
“This volunteer experience gave me a profound understanding of what it truly means to help others. Although life in the mountains is harsh and resources are scarce, the children’s smiles and thirst for knowledge filled me with warmth and motivation. Every classroom interaction, every supply delivered, and every child’s smile helped me realize the true value of volunteer work. Through this experience, I not only used my academic training to help these kids, but I also learned how to stay optimistic in the face of adversity—and how to support others through concrete actions.”