At 2:30 p.m. on July 24, 2016, all members of the Humanities and Science Expedition Team from Fengyun Society at China Agricultural University boarded the school bus to Beijing West Railway Station, officially beginning this year’s summer activities.
At 8:00 p.m., the Humanities and Science Expedition Team of Fengyun Society at China Agricultural University will once again board the Z21 train to Lhasa to conduct over twenty days of humanitarian care and scientific research activities. Carrying the spirit of CAU across thousands of miles, we reunite for the Tibet journey with Fengyun. Since 2005, the expedition team has completed eleven years of expeditions, and this year marks the twelfth journey to Tibet. We will engage in humanitarian care, scientific research, and a trek through the Kama Valley.
After arriving in Lhasa, the team will, for the tenth consecutive year, visit the Caiquan Special Welfare School in Lhasa City to continue their promise to the children and carry out humanitarian care activities. The team’s long-term teaching support has, to some extent, helped address the shortcomings of short-term volunteering. This year, the course preparation focuses mainly on academic subjects supplemented by interest-based classes. The academic courses aim to help students review what they’ve learned this semester and introduce new knowledge, while the diverse interest classes allow them to experience the joys of life. This year, we will bring our self-written mini textbook titled "Caiquan Moments," which includes motivational stories from team members, quotes, and more, hoping to inspire the children.
This year’s scientific research will be conducted in Dingjie County, Shigatse City. Based on the local economic, living, and production conditions, our research will focus on several areas: the industrialization of highland barley, the development of the Riwu Port border trade market, the current state of grassland ecology and its conservation, as well as specialty agricultural products such as Tibetan snowcock and water wood ear. We hope that through on-site investigation, we can gain a deeper understanding of local life and various aspects of development, providing better and more tailored suggestions for the local community’s livelihood and progress.
After completing the research in Dingjie County, we will embark on a fully equipped trek through the Kama Valley. Recognized as one of the world’s top ten trekking routes, the Kama Valley boasts breathtaking scenery, with the Tangxiang Platform being an exceptional spot for photography; it also presents a certain level of trekking difficulty. We hope all team members will participate in the Kama Valley trek and successfully complete this challenging journey.
After nearly four months of preparation in various aspects, the expedition team members set off successfully, united by a shared dream. We wish this humanities and science expedition a complete success and the fulfillment of dreams in Tibet. We sincerely thank all the teachers, students, sponsors, and members of the community who have supported the Humanities and Science Expedition Team. It is your continuous care and support that have enabled the team to keep moving forward and grow stronger.