Short Term Teams China
For several years now, teams of volunteers from Australia have travelled with CNEC Partners International to China to serve those in need in various ways. There are two types of short term teams to China: China English Camps and China Medical and Dental teams. Click here to help raise funds for the final storey of a school in Jilong. This is the special project for this year's China English Camp.
English Teaching Camps (each July)
As English is a highly valued subject, required for university entrance, several principals have asked us to come and share English conversation skills with selected students. For 2 weeks in July each year, we run classes where 3 or 4 team members will lead many activities with a group of about 20 students, helping them gain confidence in pronunciation and understanding. This is in a poor rural area where largely unreached minority tribes live.
As well as this, we have been asked to teach the students 'morals'. This is required of schools, but little training is provided for teachers. So we are happy to oblige. We share the true basis of morality, and speak on topics ranging from evolution/creation to honouring parents, love and relationships, anger, humility and appreciating my own uniqueness.
As teams and students grow quickly in affection and warmth, there is much sharing outside of class time. Many students have asked about why we come and are impressed with the love and concern shown to them. Often these students will only see their parents about twice a year. The effect of the teams is powerful and has sown seeds into their lives which we believe will bear much fruit in years to come.
Team members do not need to be qualified teachers, though we do have quite a few on each team. We also have a good proportion of bi-lingual teachers to help.
In July 2008 we completed another English camp (read 2008 report) requiring 150 teachers to work with 900 students. Friends from USA, Canada and Hong Kong joined us to form a fantastic team. In August 2008 we also ran a smaller team with a new school where a group of 112 poor but very bright students (called "class of hope") received our help. Due to the swine flu epidemic we were unable to send a team in 2009. However, the team that was trained committed themselves to becoming advocates for the needs of students in China and raised funds for school buildings. We plan to send a team in July 2010.
Projects
In this area, CNEC Partners International has also undertaken many projects such as building medical centres, schools and wells in small mountain villages. Many children from these villages go to the larger secondary schools where our teams run the camp, so there is an excellent network. The local government authorities have grown to trust and appreciate our work, and are fully supportive of all we are doing. We are open about our Christian motivation and respectful of their wishes to not publicly 'missionise'. It is a wonderful and productive partnership.
Medical teams
We send other teams that are medical in orientation to work with our partners in China. Doctors, dentists, nurses and optometrists freely give their time and skills to provide free clinics in small villages to locals who cannot afford paid visits. Read our 2008 China Medical report and 2009 China Medical report.
Call to Action
Will you join this exciting work? Age is no barrier; neither is ability - just your availability! Our medical teams require medically trained people and untrained medical personnel to help them with the operation of the medical clinics. You would be giving 2 weeks to come and serve, but the common testimony is that you will receive more than you give - a truly transforming experience.
Contact our Short Term Team Coordinator, Phil Arnold, for further information: phila@cnecpi.com.au or phone 03 9899 2044. View our events calendar for details of short term team events.