"We Learn From The Children We Work For"
Two Amity Volunteers Report
Katrin Fiedler
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Wu Qiumei (L) and Han Tingting (R) |
"It was in Easter 2000 that I read a newspaper article about somebody who was sponsoring a child in Yunnan to go back to school. I was very moved by this story and decided that I wanted to do something myself."
Shortly afterwards, Wu Qiumei (53) joined the ranks of Amity's volunteers. "At first, having studied some theology myself, I wanted to support a theology student from a poor region. But then, the opportunity to work for Amity came up," she smiles and seems to be perfectly happy about this twist of fate.
Today Wu, a former accountant, is one of the voluntary workers who come in regularly to help with the paperwork related to Amity's Back To School project. In this project, students who had to drop out of school for financial reasons are supported by Amity to resume their studies. To ensure that the money allocated to needy families is really spent on tuition fees, regular follow-up is necessary. Thousands of school reports, project forms filed by local representatives and the occasional thank you letter all need to be read, sorted through, and checked for consistency to make sure donations reach those they are intended for.
"When I joined Amity, I did not know much about how the project actually worked. I just learned the necessary skills on the job," Wu explains. "It is work where you need to pay attention to details, be quick and responsible. Because of the expansion of the programme, we actually had to review some of the procedures over the past few years. Fortunately, we now have a large bunch of university students coming in to help during their summer vacation."
"The more I do this kind of work, the more meaningful it becomes," Wu continues to talk about her motivation. "In the end, we don't do it for ourselves or for the beneficiaries, but for God. With this attitude, every day at work is very meaningful. Of course my work sometimes is tiring, but when I see those children before my inner eye, I feel strong again. And every year, we do a selection survey which gives us direct feedback from a number of children, which is also very motivating." Many of the children come from a very difficult background, Wu adds, struggling with tears. "They have handicapped parents, or are orphans... it is very hard for them. I feel that I gain so much from learning about these children."
"When I joined Amity, there were only 8,000 children in the programme," Wu remembers. Today, more than 40,000 children all over China receive a primary school education supported by Amity. This expansion has only been possible thanks to the commitment of people like Wu and her friend Han Tingting, who spend five days a week in the office just like their paid colleagues.
Han Tingting (53) joined Amity in March of 2001. "Wu Qiumei brought me along after I retired from my job," Han recounts. "Amity's mentality is very compatible with my faith," she describes one of her discoveries after joining Amity's volunteers. "I want to express Christ's love through my work."
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Han Tingting at work |
For Han, one of the most rewarding experiences is the cooperation with her young Amity colleagues. "They are all very lovable - so nice and then so hardworking, they go to all those remote places..." And, like Wu, Han treasures the exposure to the children she works for. "I learn such a lot from these children, from the letters they write. It is very fulfilling to read their reports. The bible says 'Giving is more blessed than receiving,' and my work with Amity gives me a lot of opportunities to make this saying come true. A while ago, we had to fill in a questionnaire about our motivation. I simply wrote down that I am very happy to do this kind of work." Wu nods emphatically to her colleague's words.
As a professional church musician, Han nurtures further hopes for her children's work. "I would love to help them through music, expose them to it and give them opportunities to make music for themselves. Many children love music, and there may even be very gifted young people among the students we sponsor, but they simply get no opportunity to study music."
For both Han and Wu, one of the highlights in their involvement in the Back To School project was a visit to Mengcheng earlier this year, where they had an opportunity to meet some of the students they work for in person. In November, they will take another batch of visitors from Hong Kong to meet Amity-sponsored primary school students. "I am looking forward to it," Wu smiles.
Amity's Back To School Children
9-year-old Zhu Liyan from Mashan County in Guangxi writes:
"After my father died of illness, my family went into dire strait. Just when I was about to drop out of school, you gave me a hand, a warm hand.
I am now the flower that will blossom in the morning dews and raindrops. The flower will grow more beautiful, and with your help and love, I will grow up and become a useful person for my motherland."
