FOCAL POINTS

Sanhe Library in 2021

My name is Yuxin Ma. In 2021, I moved with my parents to Sanhe village in Dali, Yunnan. My parents started a local library and I worked in the library as a volunteer. In May, I graduated from Denison University. Therefore, I paid more attention to the library and later became a manager in the library. This library is mainly open for local children in primary schools.

 

Children love books in the library!

Moveable books are children’s favorite.

 

Every Saturday, at 10 a.m., local children gather at the front door of the library. The library will then open and children will get in. First, they will be free for reading in 40 minutes. Then, I will lead them to do some activities. So far, we made cakes, tarts, and curry. Besides cooking, I read books for them or we read the same book together.

Local people usually have two meals a day. The first meal will start around 10 a.m. which is the time of the library opening. Local children sometime will rather to go to the library instead eat in their home. Therefore, we use some cooking lessons teach and to feed those children so they will not be hungry.

Just can’t put down books… even during nap time.

In the afternoon, I will lead science activities, including making paper circuits, little robots, and watching documentaries. Those science activities introduce basic knowledge of physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology, and many disciplines, exercise children’s hands-on abilities, promote them to work as a team, and, of course, are fun. Sometimes, I will lead children to go out, to visit museums or to enjoy nature.

Before studying electromagnetic, I first introduced some related books.

Outdoor class—to make models of leaves.

Pick up garbage after the outdoor class.

Visit the Iron Pillow Temple, a temple built since around 700 A.D.

From June to November, I have spent five months with local children in this small library. By the time we first started the library, local residents could not believe that someone will willingly run a library for local children. However, now, they are also very fond of this small children's library. They are grateful that I can help them bring their children for free every Saturday, which can help them reduce the burden. They are also grateful that their children can learn and have a great time. The children who were screaming at first also gradually became generous and polite. Here, they not only learned a lot of knowledge but also opened up their horizons.

Camping night—a night in this gorgeous camping place with stargazing and bonfire party!

 

In the past 5 months, I have also gained a lot. Through getting along with the children, I gradually learned that the children in the village do not lack food, clothing, or books, but they lack guidance and company from adults. Many of the local children’s parents work outside of the village and leave them with their grandparents. Grandparents need to work in the fields and do not have time to accompany them. Now, with this library, children find a company with me and other children. They have new activities on Saturday which they can play and learn, so they are naturally very happy. If a glimmer of sunshine or rain from this small library will help those children on their way to growing up, I will feel very pleased.

 

Thank ESS for providing books and the inspiration and creativity of various activities. Therefore, our library can have various activities and books that can attract children.