Conclusions

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

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 download the Project Report - Dream Corps 2005 [pdf] download the Chinese version Project Report (Chinese) - Dream Corps 2005 [pdf] Teams Members List [xls]

Summary

Location: Beijing, Qinghe Host(s): New Century Elementary School; An-ning-zhuang Elementary School Local Contact(s): Mr. Wang Yi, Principle, New Century Elementary School; Mr. Fu Yangfeng, Principle, An-ning-zhuang Elementary School Major Beneficiaries: New Century Elementary School; An-ning-zhuang Elementary School

Migrant worker is an important part of the Chinese population. However, their welfares are often ignored or ill handled by the government. The government does not sponsor their children’s education in and around the city. As the population of migrant workers increases in the city, for example, in the city of Beijing, self-organized schools start to rise as the only form of educational institution the children of migrant works. Invited by two migrant workers’ children’s school, Dream Corps will conduct researches on how those school functions and what their major difficulties are. Dream Corps will also assist the schools to build school libraries and assist with teaching and after-school counseling.

Summary

Location: Gansu Province, Tianzhu Local Contact(s): Evergreen Education Foundation Local Coordinators Major Beneficiaries: New Century Elementary School; An-ning-zhuang Elementary School

In cooperation with Evergreen, an organization working on the use of information technology in rural schools, Dream Corps volunteers provides volunteers for completing educational projects including English teaching, digital library management training, and information technology training.

Summary

Location: Guizhou Province, Liupanshui Host(s): League Association of Guizhou Major Beneficiaries: Rural Community and Local Schools Conclusion Presentation [ppt]

This is a new site for Dream Corps. Guizhou is one of the poorest provinces in China. Surrounded by numerous mountains, Guizhou has long been isolated from and neglected by the outside China. With the proceeding of the “Develop the West” policy of the Chinese government, the situation has been greatly improved. However, the enhancements are largely concentrated in urban areas. To the people who live in the rural areas inside the mountains, development is still a dream that is far away from being realized. The rapid development of technology actually makes it harder and harder for countryside folks to catch up, and the only way out is education.

Summary

Location: Henan Province, Lankao Host(s): Hecun Village Committee Local Contact(s): Mr. Wang Dexian, Leader of Village Co-op Major Beneficiaries: Hecun Village schools and Hecun Village

Hecun Village is an “experimental village” where the government attempts to develop with a new set of creative methods. Dream Corps cooperates with the government of Hecun Village to conduct a variety of research studies on the topic of healthcare, community building, environmental protection, and education. This is a rare opportunity for an international NGO to directly involve in the policy design of a Chinese village.

A group of volunteers with specific research proposals in the area of healthcare, education, and public policy/politics were sent to the village to conduct their researches. Their studies will be useful for the local government as well as future cooperation between Dream Corps and Hecun Village.

Summary

Location: Hunan Province, Linfang Host(s): Lingfang Township High School Major Beneficiaries: Lingfang Township High School and Lingfang Elementary School Conclusion Presentation [ppt]

Last year’s pilot project on opening the school library at Lingfang Central Elementary School requires an evaluation. Volunteers evaluated the social, educational, and cultural impact of the library and make proper suggestions for utilizing it more efficiently and creatively. To extend the usefulness of the library to the larger village community, volunteers also experimented community activities centered on library usage.

Summary

Location: Jiangxi Province, Lichuan Host(s): Tu Xiaohua Local Contact(s): Tu Jiong Major Beneficiaries: Lichuan Community Conclusion Presentation [ppt]

In October, 2004, Dream Corps helped the Lichuan County community to open a community library targeted at youths and children. Currently, the community library contains 1412 books and is located in a store space of 52 square meters. The library is running strong with an average of 8 visitors a day, opening 32 hours a week.

Dream Corps sends a team of volunteer to help the library to expand and gain more local support through media publicity and fund-raising from local businesses.

Location: Yunnan Province, Tucheng Host(s): Sankeshu Elementary School Major Beneficiaries: Sankeshu Village and its elementary school and high school

Last year’s investigation on the impact of poverty on education at Tucheng Township suggests that one of the most helpful and efficient use of our organizational potentials at this site is to support the local students through direct tuition assistantship. This year, the primary task for the volunteers, besides their personal research projects, is to identify needy local students whose hope for education is diminished by the lack of money.

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.

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"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

Conclusions Photo Collection