UK university program is a class act for pupils

"We want college students to do something meaningful in their spare time," says Qi. "Most of our pupils are orphans or 'left-behind children'."

The goal is to enable them to experience a life vastly different from their own.

"In this way, they can better appreciate life, learn to respect others and be grateful," Qi says.

To date, the University of Huddersfield has developed cooperative relations with more than 400 institutes of higher learning in China, according to Qi.

It has staged nearly 100 charity events for rural young students on the Chinese mainland since 2015, involving many volunteers from domestic colleges.

"Every year we would recruit elite students from Huddersfield and our partners to join our volunteer programs," Qi says.

Students visit children in need and engage in a two-week teaching program at the school.

"Afterward, they will get our volunteer certificates, living allowances, and even scholarships," Qi adds.

Some Chinese students of the domestic colleges who participated in the volunteer programs, opted to study at the University of Huddersfield after joining those philanthropic events, while some students at the university continued to engage in rural teaching even after graduation.

Shi Zhonghui has already planned to visit the Anqing school soon after his graduation from Huddersfield in July.

Shi had his first interaction with the pupils back in 2017, when he came here to work as a volunteer teacher.

"I immediately felt a bond with them," Shi says.

Although Shi and his team helped the children in the weeklong program, including teaching them math, literature, music and paper-cutting, he felt he received a lot more from them.

"They taught me how to love, respect, stay curious and be kind," Shi says.

For Rodrigues, she had a special wish for the pupils.

"May they learn more with each passing day and feel loved and really cared for," she says.