中文 | Francais | Deutsch | 日本语
Home Nation World Business Science/Technology Photo Gallery Arts & Culture Special Health Video
Special>2008 Paralympic Games>Beijing Review Archives
UPDATED: September-5-2008  
Young Volunteers Help Disabled Children
BY DU YA

For nine year-old Lan Zhenni, the world may be silent, but it is not lifeless.

The girl, who has never been able to hear and likely never will, can now talk with and understand others. This astounding result can be attributed to the devotion of young volunteers who began tutoring her two years ago.

Lan is one of 48 disabled children receiving help from a volunteer team of 500 college students from Jinan University in Shandong Province. These children, quite capable mentally, did not attend schools because they could not go out alone.

When Zhu Yonghuan, a girl student from Jinan Normal School, visited Lan for the fist time two years ago, they could not communicate at all, managing only unintelligible sounds. The next visit Zhu brought a small mirror, showing Lan how to watch her mouth and learn pinyin pronunciations. Holding the mirror, Lan touched the teacher's throat and studied a wall poster illustrating the points of articulation while making different sounds.

The whole afternoon passed m exhaustive practice. Zhu lost her voice, but Lan still couldn't pronounce "j." Neither of them were discouraged, though, and they persisted through the next day and the next until one year later, Lan could not only understand the teacher and others by lip-reading, but she could also speak herself. By the time she was eight she entered a school for normal children and now gets high scores in every subject except music.

Lan has kept the small mirror as a powerful reminder of her accomplishment and good fortune. "The mirror helped me overcome difficulties learning to speak," the girl said, "so I believe it will help me beat any other difficulty in the future."

Zhu Yonghuan, the teacher, also cherishes a deep feeling for the mirror. "The small mirror helps me realize how to help those in need," she said.

Twelve year-old Zhang Miaomiao is another girl whose life was dramatically improved by the volunteers. Zhang, who suffers from a serious deformity of the hands and feet, cannot walk independently. Feeling powerless and fearing ridicule, she hid away from the world.

Nineteen of Jinan's young volunteers changed all that, taking turns teaching her Chinese and mathematics and telling her historic stories. Since Zhang cannot single-handedly hold pens, they taught her to grip a pen using two hands. Now she writes with no difficulties.

The volunteers also encouraged Zhang to get out more and enjoy the beauty of nature. One day they took her out to a lake, the first time the girl had been far away from home. Her joy was obvious, and she has been a happier girl since, even venturing out with the volunteers to the Great Wall with a group of other handicapped children in September 1994.

Han Feng, 18, another beneficiary of Jinan University volunteers, is now confidently supporting himself .thanks to the selfless group. Han could not attend school due to a chronic incontinence problem, the result of a serious infant illness. He learned what little he could from his younger brother's school books.

The volunteers began working with him two years ago, taking turns teaching primary school subjects. He has since passed the primary school graduation examination, and is applying for a license to open a small shop.

Seeing what a significant difference they have made in many lives, Jinan volunteers are deeply touched and gratified.

"I suddenly felt I have grown up and decided to try my best to help those in need," said 20-year-old Qian Kun from Jinan University, who had never imagined the difficulties faced by handicapped children until he saw them first-hand.

Wang Xiaozhen, one of the volunteers who helped Miaomiao reach the Great Wall, said she has been included as an important member of Miaomiao's family. "I've realized how important I am to the girl and the whole family," she said. "I think my life is even more valuable when it's of value to others."

(Beijing Review p.24 No. 30, 1996)


More Cities >>

Air Quality Report
 
About BEIJINGREVIEW | About beijingreview.com | Rss Feeds | Contact us | Advertising | Subscribe & Service | Make Beijing Review your homepage
Copyright Beijing Review All right reserved