Summer tutoring program offers path to better life for Fujian village children

According to Guo, most adult villagers in Xiaqi received little education and they are not capable of helping their children, even first graders, with their homework. Moreover, the children's parents usually have to go fishing on the coastal waters in daytime, leaving little time to accompany their children.

The former kindergarten teacher also tries to teach pupils more about hygiene when they come to the class.

Guo showed them pictures that illustrate what the environment will look like if people throw litter everywhere. She also brought them outside to pick up trash and clean the floor.

"The villagers pay little attention to keeping good hygiene. I hope the children can spread the hygienic knowledge they learned here back at home to their family members," she said.

Guo also is considering a summer camp activity that aims to enable the youngsters to learn more about the village's history, such as how their grandparents lived on boats in the past.

Chen Shouguang, a villager working on staff at the Xiaqi village committee, said at first the village committee was worried the villagers might not send their children to the class, but it turned out dozens of pupils now come here every day.

"Education is still a relatively weak part of our village's development, but it is the only way that our next generations can live a better life than us. The off-campus tutoring class is a good thing and I hope it will be carried on," he said.