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Conclusion Forum
As an annual tradition, when summer volunteers have finished their fieldwork in the countryside, Dream Corps organizes an open forum in China on issues regarding volunteerism and balanced development of China.
Forum Pictures 
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Against the background of burgeoning volunteer movement and rural reconstruction activism in China, Dream Corps Annual Forum provides the occasion for experts and practitioners from the fields of volunteerism and rural development in China to reflect upon the development of volunteerism in China, its role in rural development, and the impact of international cooperation.
The individual experiences of Dream Corps ' international volunteers would provide interesting stimulants for the discussions |
The First Dream Corps Beijing Annual Forum
Promote exchange of thoughts and experiences of rural development and volunteer activities.
Location: Peking University, Beijing.
The Dream Project’s summer activities culminated at a half-day conference held on the campus of Peking University in Beijing. Dream Corps organized this conference to bring together experts of rural China research, such as Tianjian Shi of Duke University and Liu Laoshi of China Economic System Reform Agency, experts of NGO, such as Tong Zhihui of Tsinghua’s NGO Institute, and representatives and volunteers from other NGOs and student organizations devoted to rural development as well as the principals of three schools for migrant workers’ children in Beijing.
The Dream Project volunteers presented their work and reflections. Other experts and NGO representatives then introduced their work in the field. While the participants amply commended the Dream Project’s cross-Pacific volunteering stride, they never hesitated to voice their concerns. “How do you make sure your endeavor will persevere when bursts of enthusiasm subside? How are you to avoid top-down imposition of a ‘solution’ conceived without bottom-up participation? Will what you call ‘information’ that comes through a dialup connection turn out to misinform in the specific rural context? How will you manage your organization’s relationship with the government at various levels?” are some of the questions generated engaging discussion at the conference and continued reflection among the Dream Project’s volunteers afterwards. More subjects attracted the attention of the Dream Project’s volunteers – the ongoing debate about “education for excellence” versus “education for exams” and the burgeoning schools for migrant workers, getting them to think hard about how their future work may fit in such complicated social dynamics.
Conclusion Forum Report [pdf]
download the Project Report - Dream Corps 2004 [pdf]
Summary
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Location: Hunan Province, Lingfang
Pilot Study on Library Project and Understanding Rural Education in the Larger Context. Program Site and Duration of Stay:
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Summary
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Location: Jiangxi Province, Lichuan
Supporting Local Initiative on Creating Public Space. |
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Location: Shandong Province, Heze
Pilot Study on Information Village and Understanding Rural Education through Teaching. Program Site and Duration of Stay:
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Location: Yunnan Province, Zhaotong
Pilot Study on the Feasibility of Library Project and an Account of Rural Children’s lives through Photography. Program Site and Duration of Stay:
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Dream Corps aspires to grow into a major player and knowledge leader in volunteerism and community building, in the U.S., China and in the world.
- In China: A leading force and a brand name for youth social participation. A knowledge leader on foreign volunteers working in rural China.
- In the U.S. and Canada: One of the major channels for volunteering in China. An network organization for Chinese students studying in the U.S. and Canada students of China descent.
- In the World: A platform for people with interest in China to volunteer in China. A volunteer corps for library initiatives in other developing countries besides China.
"It is impossible to root the urban working style in the rural soil. To make our volunteering projects effective and sustainable, it is necessary to initiate rural social elites, turn them into the social capital, and jointly set up social organizations and carry out systematic constructions in counties and villages."
- Professor Wen Tiejun, Advisor to Dream Corps, Dean of School of Agriculture and Rural Development of Renmin University of China
Conclusion Photo Collection |