China Summer:
International Volunteer Workcamp
July 27-August 21, 2008

Workcamp Overview

The Workcamp begins in Shanghai, one of the most developed cities in the world, for a few days of sightseeing. Participants will then travel to Hunan province in rural central China, a beautiful and remote area. For three weeks, participants will join Chinese, Korean and Japanese volunteers in teaching English and environmental studies to local children. There will be regular days off for participants to explore a nearby city, visit the families of students, go on hikes, and shop at a local market. The Workcamp concludes with a graduation ceremony for all students.

Local culture, economy, and natural environment of Xiaoshicun

The village of Xiaoshicun is located within Gao Qiao (High Bridge) Township, which is affiliated with Zhu Zhou City, the second-largest city in Hunan. Xiaoshicun is in southeastern Hunan Province, about 100 km from the province capital, Changsha. Hunan is in south-central China.

The area around Xiaoshicun is a rice-growing area. It is surrounded by low, lush hills. The weather is typically very hot and humid in the summer, with a long rainy season in the spring, a brief but pleasant fall, and cool winters. It is an excellent growing climate, which produces two rice crops a year and numerous vegetables, giving rise to Hunan’s claim as China’s “rice bowl.”

Xiaoshicun has approximately 100 families. These families are further divided into 5 “groups” (zu), in which families live in relatively close proximity (we will be in Shi Wan Zu: “Stone Valley” Group). Low hills and walks of 10-30 minutes separate the groups from one another. Each group has a “group leader,” underneath the village head.

Most local people are officially rice farmers, but they often have additional enterprises as well. Many families maintain small vegetable patches for self-consumption and small-scale sale at local markets. Some people rent area fish ponds from the village and/or raise chickens and pigs for sale. Many hire themselves out as part-time construction laborers in the area, or open small shops nearby. Others have motorcycles they use as informal “taxis,” or trucks for delivery services (so when we see young men riding around on motorcycles, assume that these are work-related investments rather than pleasure-seeking toys).

The local culture is exceedingly friendly, open, and generous. People leave their front doors open, and call out to their neighbors as they pass. Often people stop in, and sit in the front yard chatting. Since telephones have only recently come to the village, people have developed a habit of calling out (and talking) very loudly to each other.

The Living, Eating, and Natural Environment of the Workcamp

Participants will live in the hundred-year old pressed-earth building that participants painted the workcamp’s first year, with seven to eight people to a room. It will be hot and humid, but there will be electric fans in the dormitories and we will take a mid-day rest (like the local people). Participants will use composting toilets built for the workcamp. There is a well supplying running water and four shower rooms (with hot water), but we will limit ourselves to one brief shower per day. We will drink boiled well water, which is sanitary. We will eat the local food and local diet, adhering to what is available at this season (to limit any negative impact on the local environment and economy). This means that we will eat steamed rice, along with stir-fried vegetables and some meat (primarily pork, some chicken or fish) for lunch and dinner. We will probably eat noodles, steamed buns, or rice porridge for breakfast. The local food is spicier and uses more oil than most Americans are probably used to. At each meal at least one of the dishes will have no meat for vegetarians.

We will take turns cleaning our living area, assisting the cooks, washing dishes, and doing laundry (the school has two washing machines). Everyone will be able to wash one set of clothes each day.

Participant Responsibilities

Working: Participants will participate in field projects aimed at promoting environmental protection in the local community.

Meeting: Participants will join a committee, which will meet regularly to manage daily issues at the workcamp.

Studying: Participants will give presentations and take part in group discussions on social issues related to the workcamp. Participants will undertake field research and write brief reports on a related topic of their choosing.

Teaching: Teaching: Participants will teach at least two classes a day based on their skills and expertise. American participants will focus on English language instruction. Each participant will teach classes with approximately 20-30 students, ranging from ages 11-18. Their English level is often extremely limited, but working with Chinese teaching partners allows for effective classroom communication.

Administration at the Workcamp

The workcamp has three levels of administration. The primary level is made up of the five committees that directly manage all aspects of the workcamp. Each participant can choose which committee they will be on. The committees will meet each afternoon to discuss their work, and make regular announcements to the larger group in the evening.
The five committees are: Education,  Environmental Work,   Lifestyle,  Meetings,  Recording

The next level of administration is the five administrators, who generally have participated in previous China Summer workcamps. They will clerk each of the five committees, and meet regular to manage the travel, work, and life of the workcamp. The final level is Jamie Reilly and Wu Na, who oversee the entire project.

Living in Community

Since this project brings together so many cultures and languages, a respect for others is essential for all participants. The working languages of the workcamp will be English and Chinese, with translation into Japanese and Korean as necessary. We will have Chinese (and English) language classes for participants during the workcamp, but recommend that people learn at least some basic Chinese before coming.

Participants will live, work, and eat in close proximity to each other; this rare chance for forming such intense international friendships often proves to be the most rewarding element of the workcamp for participants.

A Regular Day at the China Summer Workcamp

7:30 am: Breakfast (porridge, peanuts, steam buns yum? )
8:30 am: 1st Class
9:30 am: 2nd Class
10:30 am: 3rd class
11:15 am: 3rd class ends and many students return home to eat lunch and rest
12:00 pm: Lunch
2:30 am: 4th class
3:30 am: 5th class
4:30 am: 6th class
5:15 am: students leave school
6:00 pm: Dinner

After dinner, teaching groups meet and plan for their next day, committee meet and others hang out, rest and play cards. Sometimes there is a community evening discussion organized by the committees on the environment, education, or society.

2005 China Summer Workcamp Schedule (future Workcamp schedules will be similar)

Monday, July 25: fly to Beijing

Tuesday, July 26: arrive in Beijing, check in hotel, sleep, and explore Beijing

Wednesday, July 27- Thursday July 28: explore Beijing (Visit Great Wall, Summer Palace, Ming Tombs, etc)

Friday, July 29: catch a train to Changsa in the afternoon

Saturday, July 30: Arrive in Changsa and meet Chinese participants. Drive two hours to village. Afternoon have Workcamp orientation

Sunday, July 31: Workcamp orientation and teaching preparation

Monday, August 1: Wednesday, August 3: Teach class

Thursday, August 4: Day off- take a hike around area, play games, watch movies, plan for classes

Friday, August 5-Sunday, August 7: Teach class

Monday, August 8: Day off- visit students homes and make Chinese dumplings

Tuesday, August 9- Wednesday, August 10: Teach Class

Thursday, August 11: Morning-Earth Day Celebrations, Afternoon-Leling Homestay, sleep in Leling

Friday, August 12- Drive back to the village, teach in the afternoon

Saturday, August 13-Sunday, August 14: Teach Class

Monday, August 15: sleep in and rest, games and movies

Tuesday, August 16-Wednesday, August 17: Teach and Graduation preparation

Thursday, August 18: Morning: Graduation, Afternoon: evaluation of Workcamp

Friday, August 19: Leave for Changsa, Spend afternoon in Changsa and take night train to Beijing

Saturday, August 20: Arrive in Beijing in early afternoon, Spend afternoon and evening touring Beijing

Sunday, August 21: explore Beijing, leave for airport in early afternoon, find out plane to United States has been cancelled and airport puts all passengers up in five star hotel. Participants were in a state of awe.*

Monday, August 22: Finally board plan to Chicago and arrive in Philly in the evening.

* Although a fun time was had, this portion is not planning on being duplicated.

Preparations for this year’s workcamp have been jointly administered by:

James Reilly and Wu Na Reilly
East Asia Representatives
American Friends Service Committee

USA Contact Information:

China Summer Workcamp
1515 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Anne Triest
China Summer U.S. Program Coordinator
617-504-3103

E-mail: chinaworkcamp@gmail.com

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