Chinese volunteers to Cambodia set off

A launching ceremony was held on July 31, 2016 to send off the first group of Chinese young volunteers to serve in Cambodia for the following year. 

The five volunteers consist of two graduate students, two undergraduates and one college student. All of them are from schools in Northwest China's Shaanxi province.

The team is going to the capital, Phnom Penh, where the Home of Chinese Culture is located. The volunteers will teach piano, Chinese martial arts, Ping-pong, dancing as well as painting and calligraphy to students of all ages.  

The first pilot overseas institution promoting Chinese culture, the Home of Chinese Culture was jointly set up by China’s Ministry of Culture and Xinzhi Group, a company selling books, audio-visual products, stationery and sporting goods. It has become a window for people of Cambodia to understand China.

Cao Xunchang, leader of the volunteer service team and a postgraduate from the Xi’an University of Technology, said the journey to Cambodia not only can help him understand the world better, but also is a great opportunity to gain experience.

The volunteer service team is a part of the Chinese Youth Overseas Service Project, which was launched in April 2002.  

To date, over 600 young volunteers from different places in China such as Shanghai, South China’s Guangdong province and Chongqing, southwest China have been sent to countries including Seychelles, Mauritius and Laos.

This team plays an important role in telling stories about China, conveying China's voice to the world, extending China’s influence and spreading China’s love. Moreover, the dedicated spirit of Chinese young volunteers has added some bright color to the country’s overseas image.  

As the team prepared to leave for Cambodia, Chen Tianhua, the country’s consul in Xi'an, introduced Cambodia’s national conditions and local customs and practices to the volunteers. He also had deep exchanges with the young people.

 “Your visiting Cambodia will strengthen the friendly communication between the youth of the two countries and at the same time advance China and Cambodia to borrow and learn from each other’s cultural tradition,” Chen said.