Back from the land of Panda, China, Sichuan Province!

Priscilla, Gang and I had an eventful 1 week at the annual Qian Qian Shou (千牵手) (Thousand Linking Hands) in collaboration with TOUCH Community Services International, to share the spirit of volunteerism, promote cultural exchange and bilingualism amongst the youths from both Singapore and China.

Residing at the newly built school located at the outskirts of Dijiangyan (都江堰), You Ai School （友爱学校）is well acclaimed as a fully facilitated and one of the forerunners in the education for the physically handicapped. The town of Dujiangyan, though was one of the most devastated areas affected by the 2008 earthquake, 2 years of impressive rebuilding works have turned this town (about the size of Singapore) into a land of greens and high-rise buildings with almost no trace of the destruction.

Upon 5 days of Service-Learning camp weaved with Project SMILE training, students were gearing up for their final task, the community engagement. 120 youths from Singapore and different parts of China, namely Shanghai, Sichuan, Xian, Dujiangyan, had one common goal which was to bring smiles to the communities of 8 different service points for profile ranging from children to elderly and earthquake victims.

For the past 5 years, Project SMILE in Qian Qian Shou has been a tool to empower young people with a skill, to bridge and connect, to engage and enrich. Students without prior experience in performing gained confidence in public speaking, to many was their first time participating in such community outreach, these are few of the many stories we encounter. I am grateful to be part of this process of youth development through magic beyond the boundaries of Singapore.

Another highlight of our trip, was certainly the challenging yet exciting and meaningful show put up by Priscilla at Xingfu Sheltered homes (幸福家园安置点), which accommodates up to 1700 families. Despite the weather; our enthusiastic audience comprised the young and the old, braved the rain with their colourful umbrellas on stools brought from their homes. The makeshift stage has wings made up of cupboards, chairs and canvas.  It was indeed sight to behold. Applauds and laughters filled the air as our youth volunteers kicked off the 45-min show with their creative magic parody of a Chinese classic, “Journey to the West”, followed by Priscilla’s finale magic show. The two full days of sleepless preparation, frenzy outdoor stage set up, house to house visiting for show publicity were all efforts worthwhile.

During the closing ceremony of this 1-week friendship camp, with linking hands and hearts, the tear-jerking classic theme song “手牵手”was sung once more. Dreams and aspirations written on coloured papers, folded into paper aeroplanes flew across the hall as a symbolism that the end of the camp marks a new beginning for each to pursue their goals. Their tagline, “一个终点，也是一个新的起点” (ie. an end, also a new beginning), I believe, was the seed that Qian Qian Shou has sown in the hearts of all the youths.

In all, am so thankful for great Chinese friends and great spicy steamboat (四川火锅) and great little panda toys as souvenirs! Sichuan, a place I will come again. Long Live Qian Qian Shou!