Seventeen teachers and graduate students from 11 countries from Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) visited Linwei district in Weinan, Northwest China's Shaanxi province on Oct 13 to see the achievements of China's rural revitalization.
Foreign teachers visit a library donated by Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) to Xianwang primary school.
They first arrived at Xianwang primary school, where they listened to students talk about the poverty alleviation measures taken by NPU and the influence it has had on their lives.
Fawad Sharif Sayed Muhammad, a postdoctoral scholar from Pakistan and Esangbedo Moses Olabhele, a postdoctoral scholar from Nigeria, had nice things to say about the school.
They said, "These activities not only broaden children's vision but also make them experience the interest of technology. Maybe in the future, we and these students can meet at the campus of NPU, which will be a valuable thing!"
The two also presented exercise books to the students as gifts.
NPU teacher Timothy Kingham gave an English lesson to fifth-grade students, using games to teach them the language.
"These children are very cute and their English is pretty good. They adapted to the game very quickly. I think the lesson was very successful," Kingham siad.
Wu Hong, a French teacher who has been in China for nine years, said that she was surprised at the primary school's environment. "Developments in China's rural areas are pretty good."
Kingham gives an English lesson for students.
Kingham interacts with students.
Wu Hong talks with children.
In the afternoon, the group visited the Qiaoniang straw weaving cooperative in Weinan. The cooperative is a private processing company integrated with inheritance, design, production, training, processing and marketing.
Straw weaving has helped many women get rid of poverty. The company has offered order-based poverty alleviation skill training for women for a long time, helping them master a skill that can increase their incomes.
Since the establishment of the cooperative, it has helped more than 500 households, including more than 300 impoverished ones, totalling over 2,000 people. It has also helped over 400 people shake off poverty through related industries.
In a showroom, cushions, flower baskets and other items are weaved out of straw. The teachers were quite interested in these exquisite handmade straw-weaving works.
Wu Hong takes a photo with the artwork.
Teachers check out straw weaving artwork.
Tikhonov Evgenii, an assistant professor from Russia, uses straws to form the Chinese characters "I love China".
"This journey is very valuable. I am amazed at the Chinese government's support to rural industries and the rural economy for rural revitalization. Every village has its unique culture and industries. China makes these unique cultural industries revive with vitality. These are good experiences to learn. In the future, I will share China's precious experiences and successful practices with the friends of my country," said Arodh Lal Karn, an assistant professor from Nepal.
(Source: China Daily)
