This summer, during 16th July to 30th August, I went toSriLanka, which is a country known as A tear in the Indian Ocean, to dovolunteer work through the platform AIESEC. The project is ‘Droplet2.0’focuseing on Water Conservation. Among 18 themes of AISEC, it belongs to the6th one: Clean Water and Sanitation. The whole project is related to theseaspects: environment, society, education, group work and knowledge exchange.
Before the trip, AIESEC in XJTLU asked me to attend theOPS in Shanghai, which is an official meeting held for all volunteers. It givesus guidance before we go abroad safely and successfully, such as visaapplication, insurance, airline ticket, culture differences and so on. Also, itinspired us to be more active and passionate in group work.
I learned a lot from this party that belongs to youngpeople of my age. When everyone danced on the stage, under the spotlight, I sawshine from the eyes. They devoted themselves to what they focused on with fullheart. I think it is passion. I got inspired from speeches they delivered suchas take responsibility, change yourself before change the world. At the end ofthe meeting when there’s opportunity to speak out in front of 500 people, Istood up and said, I got so inspired, I wasn’t very brave and confident before,but now I want to stand up and speak for myself. Self-consciousness alsomatters. They asked us to think about our values. Mine is ‘Be kind and modestall the time.’ It makes me know myself more comprehensively. It also made merealize the responsibility I should take, for myself, for people I love andcare, for the society and for the world.
After packing my luggage, bringing almost everything Icould think about, including the traditional souvenirs of China, I took the airto SriLanka and started the project.
Every events wepracticed were tightly related to water conservation and environmentalsustainability. Also, in the middle, we thought the events scheduled weremeaningless, so we came out new activities on our own such as the orphanagetrip.
We went fieldtrip to Colombo’s largest garbage mountain. We interviewed the locals livingnearby, asked them survey questions and recorded:
1. Reasonsfor the formation of the landfill
2. Effectsof the collapse
3.What thelocals think of this situation
After that, we integrated all the results and wrotereports in group. Through brainstorming and discussion, we came out somereasons and possible remedial measures.
Now I can still remember the situation of garbagemountain that day. With crows circling overhead, we got shocked by what we wereseeing. There is a wall engraved with the list of dead men, who lost theirlives due to the current collapse. This place nearly becomes a touristdestination. Surrounding residents don’t move even they know the danger. Justbecause of poverty. This is the most helpless and distressed moment for mehere.
We went field trip to the Sinharaja Rainforest. There aremany leeches, spiders and snakes here and the road is muddy. For me, it is achallenge, I finally made it.
We found some issues of water equality and conservation,also, we discussed possible protection schemes and wrote them down in the formof report.
There is oneexample, which shows how serious water problems in SriLanka. Water provided forresidents living in the middle and north is timely limited. One time we livedthere, the hotel only offer 15 minutes for shower. Some local people collectwater in large tanks, which tends to breed bacteria. Also, although the tap watercan be drank, the locals told us not to.
We also did knowledge exchange. There are 20 members inour project, 3 are majored in courses that is related to water conservation. Sowe chose them to be team leaders. Each one of us was assigned one topic thatrelated to water conservation. Through searching, we made out slides and makepresentations to the rest. My topic is ‘Cancer caused by water pollution’. Inthis way, we can get more professional and systematic knowledge of water conservation.
Many times, We picked up garbage along the seaside andalong the street and gutter. We classified garbage into plastic, paper, glassand other. After collection, they are sold and we got money. With these money,we shopped for the orphanage trip. We buy things like papers, water color, glueand gouache. It is extremely hot and exhausting after the long-time hiking. Wegot low money back, however, we didn’t give up!
What impressed me most is the orphanage trip. Since ourproject is about water conservation, besides playing with children, we want tospread the idea of water protection to them. So in preparation, we designedmany games and simple hand make work related to this. All the expense we usethe money got from garbage collection.
A boy is called Nimesh. When playing matching game withhim, he always let me win first. Playing and playing, Nimesh suddenly looked upand asked me: Tomorrow coming? At that moment I felt an acid in my heart andtold him that today was the last day of our coming. He bowed his head and saidOK. Then every time I think of this moment I have deep feelings of guilt, we bringthem joy and also a little of regret.
The orphanage is presided over by a monk, Sri Lanka is acountry that extremely advocates Buddhism and kindness, I think it is becauseof the existence of the goodness and kindness, the children can have hearts fullof love.
They are best gifts I have ever received and best memoryI will always keep in mind.
I was so movedby what they did. Their eyes are bright like stars, they are all very smart,they draw beautiful flowers, just like their beautiful hearts. Those days I’mplaying with angels. It’s the first time for me to deliver happiness to otherswith full heart
Wish theses angels a greater future.
Outside of work, I also harvest friendship with othermembers. We are like family. We took countless selfies, we treasure everyonebecause they have stories that represent love.
During this 6weeks, I harvest friendship, knowledge and fun of contribution to others. Itmakes me thoroughly understand what is global citizen and the way to bear and performthis responsibility. I will keep all of these in mind forever.
When I wasasked what is my value before, I would answer: Be kind and modest all the time.After this trip to SriLanka, I will add this: Make a difference to the worldusing my power!
