Service Projects

HISTORY

In 2004, Dragonfly began the Rural Schools Program to help local schools in the Yangshuo area. Over the years we have seen the need that schools have there. While they have sturdy concrete buildings, they often lack much in the way of basic school materials such as notebooks, pens, pencils and other study materials. Old tables and benches on the verge of falling apart take the place of desks and chairs. Most schools don't have sports equipment and art supplies and have a limited amount of text books. Some schools don't even have lights in the classrooms.

Over the last two years Dragonfly has worked with local schools to begin the process of improving their teaching and learning environments. In 2007 we have added three new schools to the four we have already been working with. We strive to match one or two client schools with a local school to ensure partnership and cooperation for years to come.

In 2006, Dragonfly and our client schools helped raise over $20,000. This money has been used for stationary, new desks and chairs, sports equipment, new paint on walls and broadband connections. Through partnership and over time, we hope to extend our service beyond student involvement to include teacher to teacher training and improvements in administration and management.

SERVICE PROGRAM

Our service program establishes ongoing support by pairing our client schools with local schools, with the goal being a minimum three year commitment. This is to ensure a consistent and meaningful service relationship for the local schools and our client schools. Three years, with at least one visit per year, is a realistic time frame for seeing ongoing progress and developmental support for the local schools we serve.

Before bringing a local school into the program we meet with their principal and teachers. It is important to find schools and principals that are genuinely interested in joining the program, and not simply looking for a one-time donation. We inform them of the kinds of activities our visiting students and schools would like to do and how we can help. Through continued dialogue, we find out what is most needed in terms of improvements in education and facilities at the school. We then match their needs to the interests of one of our client schools, based on their requests for programs involving service.

Dragonfly investigates the costs and options to facilitate a three year plan for the local schools and we are entirely hands-on with regards to how the money is spent. Dragonfly is involved in all purchasing to guarantee that all donated funds are used appropriately.

In the first year (visit 1) we aim mainly to make introductions and offer community service by way of promoting cultural sharing and understanding. Activities led by our client school students include teaching English, playing English games, arts and crafts, physical and cooperative games. Dragonfly helps to facilitate and develop lesson plans with our participating students. They are required to plan and prepare in the evenings and then practice by teaching each other. The client school is also involved in making a donation for study materials, books, sports equipment and desks and chairs.

In the second and third years (visits 2 and 3), we encourage our client schools to engage in fund raising to help pay for local school infrastructure related needs, such as water wells, toilet facilities, electricity and lights, painting classrooms, and paving playgrounds. On these visits, some of the activities that the students could engage in addition to teaching are minor building or renovating projects. We would also like to see teacher to teacher training to develop strong ties between schools that continue far into the future.

Visiting students normally find the community service activities the most rewarding part of our Yangshuo programs. The little we all do really does make a difference, and we hope it encourages youth today to participate in community service throughout their lives.