Three short weeks couldn’t bring any substantial change to the lives of these children. After the brief laughter and fun, we outsiders returned to our materially affluent cities, while these children stayed behind on this land to face harsh realities.Three weeks of teaching also didn’t lead to any significant academic improvement for them. How much can a volunteer program really do to alleviate local poverty? At times, I wondered what the point was of spending a full HK$10,000 on airfare, flying all the way across the Indian Ocean to Kenya just to volunteer here. Could amateurs like us truly help those in need? Or were we just city dwellers, free from worries about food and shelter, seeking self-fulfillment and trying to add some meaning to our travels? These questions lingered in my mind until the first day of teaching, when I found the answer.
Editor’s Note: Fever Travel will be hosting the “Magnificent Africa · Travel Photography Lecture” this Saturday, inviting travel expert Sammy Wu to share his experiences and insights on photographing in Africa, giving attendees a chance to gain an in-depth understanding of African travel photography. There are limited spots remaining—sign up at: http://www.dcfever.com/travel/deal.php?id=16091
Every student at the school was visibly excited about the arrival of us so-called white people. The moment we entered the school gate, the students swarmed around us like bees to honey. They took turns touching my skin and eagerly held my hands. For a moment, you’d wonder if you were some A-list celebrity. When I finally stepped into the classroom to teach, they sat quietly, looking at me full of anticipation. Then came a barrage of curious questions.
“Is Hong Kong similar to here (this village)?”
“What crops do you grow in Hong Kong?”
“Are the houses there the same as here?”
“How many cows and sheep does your family have?”
When I told them that Hong Kong doesn’t grow its own crops and that houses are all high-rises, fifteen to twenty storeys tall, they looked puzzled. In their world, every household grows its own corn, vegetables, and raises its own cattle and sheep. How could there be a place where no crops are grown? Without farming, where would food come from? Here, all houses are single-storey—and for someone surrounded by skyscrapers, that’s unimaginable. Most of them had never left their villages, let alone seen the outside world or even had much opportunity to learn about their own country. And then it hit me—
I realized our presence was meant to tell them stories from the other side of the world.
Our arrival wasn’t about bringing wealth or concrete knowledge, but about sharing a worldview. Most Kenyans don’t get the chance to leave their country and see the world. But we, fortunate enough to travel widely, can bring the world to them. Since they can’t step out of their country, let us step in and show them the world. Though some may argue: ⟨NL⟩ if they’re stuck in such a harsh reality anyway, maybe it’s better to let them live happily in their own world, at least without comparisons to the outside. There might be some truth to that. But I believe we should confront poverty proactively. Perhaps our very presence could inspire them to study harder? I, too, grew up dreaming of traveling the world, studying hard and learning English to seize every opportunity to live abroad. Everyone needs dreams and hope. Even if our time here only leaves them with happy memories, at least they’ll know that beyond black skin, they’ve actually met people with white and yellow skin.
With this in mind, over these three weeks I chose not to teach them English, math, or other conventional subjects, but to share my travels, and the culture of life on the other side of the world—in Hong Kong. Even if they never get the chance to see the world, or even leave their village to explore their own country, through our interactions, they can at least learn how people in another corner of the world live. Over three weeks, without realizing it, we grew close. Black and white—there seemed to be no barriers or racial prejudice between us anymore.
Text and photos: Ah Niu
Website: http://iamtravelers.wordpress.com/
About Voltra Volunteer Travel
Established on April 16, 2009, Voltra is a non-governmental volunteer organization registered as a charity in Hong Kong. It aims to promote international volunteer service in Hong Kong through a global network of international workcamp organizations.
As the name suggests, Voltra allows participants to “travel” through different cultures via “voluntary work.” The “volunteer” aspect also includes the pursuit of moral principles—voluntary work can positively impact the world culturally, educationally, environmentally, and socially, contributing to sustainable community development. International cultural exchange broadens perspectives and thinking, fostering personal growth and development. Therefore, Voltra hopes to connect Hong Kong people with the world through volunteer work, contributing to world peace and promoting the concept of global citizenship.
Voltra partners with international workcamp organizations worldwide, offering over 3,000 international workcamps and volunteer programs in more than 100 countries each year, with a network spanning every corner of the globe. Voltra also hosts international workcamps in Hong Kong, allowing both local and foreign volunteers to participate in service and cultural exchange activities.
Voltra Volunteer Travel Website