Slice of rural life

Ye Maojie, a 12-year-old boy from Shanghai, didn't go out to play until he recited 50 English words in the room on the first day he arrived at the homestay. However, he wasn't exposed to English in the following days as rural life and various workshops filled his time.

His mother said the boy has become extroverted after the nature-based workshop. He used to have a slow response when his parents told him that meal was ready and had a habit of staying in bed. His habits have changed after being with his peers in the countryside.

Believing that the best education should be in a village, Wu said he and other volunteers have "planted a seed" in Xuaodi and will return to the village to launch more projects that involve more children, with the next one starting in May.

"This is not a way to reverse primitive lifestyle because rural areas in China are no longer impoverished and distressed," Wu said.

Children from cities can obtain nature-based education at a well-facilitated homestay in the village, meet rural residents and accomplish tasks in the community, he added.

The future events will focus more on making rules in the community, regarding daily chores and managing property.

Wu said the volunteers believe that nature-based education amid urbanization is like a restart, aiming to tell the next generation that cities and villages are not contradictory, but supplementary.