Filipino teacher Darleen makes paper fans with students during her class. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Eight international students studying in Xiamen spent their summer break teaching at Junkou Central Primary School in Jianning county, Fujian province, sharing cultures, languages, and ideas from around the world with local students.

The volunteers from countries including Pakistan, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Nigeria joined the GREAT (GuanRen Educational Activities Team), an education service team organized by Guanren Community in Siming district of Xiamen.

They offered classes on geography, customs, English songs, business management, and traditional arts, with activities including learning greetings from different countries and making Indonesian shadow puppets.

Bangladeshi volunteer Mumtahina wears traditional attire while teaching. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

For many students, the classes marked their first face-to-face interaction with people from other countries. The international volunteers also gained insight into rural China for the first time.

Mumtahina Parvin, a Bangladeshi student, designed a business management course where students created small shops in groups to learn teamwork and business skills. She described the program as a chance to explore rural China and better understand local education.

Kaleem Ahmed from Pakistan was impressed by the school's facilities, including computer rooms, interactive boards, and a plastic running track. He noted that such facilities were rarely available in rural schools in Pakistan and hoped to share his experiences of China with students in his hometown.

For the volunteers, the summer program was more than a teaching experience. It offered a chance to connect with local communities and gain a closer look at life in China beyond major cities.