Volunteering with LETTSEE
Relying on AIESEC’s global network, we aim to provide a set of exciting cross-cultural experience courses for migrant children, which aligned with SDG4 Quality Education. Migrant children can start to communicate with international pen pals by means of techo (a kind of diary that consists of drawings, pictures, stickers and words, originated in Japan), expand their horizons in the theme of life-like scenes, and appreciate cultural diversity. We also aim to guide children to view cultural differences correctly , shaping national cultural identity, and achieving a more “equal” cross cultural experience.
Volunteering with LETTSEE is an unforgettable experience, I was fortunate enough to join hands within my life journey. As a humanitarian, I always prefer working with children and guiding them for a better future by understanding their willingness. Another important thing is that the global network you build up. I was able to make friends from overseas, and I found it worthwhile rather than doing nothing apart from academic studies in front of a pandemic these days.
LETTSEE is a project by AIESEC in SYSU Mainland of China engaging global volunteers. I got this opportunity as an AIESECer from my entity, AIESEC Colombo South. Being a long-term volunteer, I have completed a few challenges, and I would like to share my experience with you.
Here are the challenges I have signed up for so far.
LETTSEE (a combination word of Letter and See) aims to help the disadvantaged Migrant Children in China to experience the magic of Cultural Diversity. By providing an exciting opportunity to exchange letters with foreign pen pals, we try to send these kids a gift in which they could explore the world.
At the beginning of the project, the primary communication method between the volunteer and migrant child was a greeting letter, and now photos and short video clips are used. This letter exchange always reminds me of my school time pen pal. But this is a different experience engaging more pen-pals, international volunteers, and AIESECers.
I hope to share with you all the challenges in my upcoming blogs, and today, I would like to share a few of the letter experiences.
The above picture is a greeting letter I wrote to one of the enthusiastic children waiting for a letter from us. After sending the letters to the organizing committee, they hand them over to the children as printed papers.
In this challenge, one migrant child wrote a letter for me. It’s so lovely to read Cao’s jokes, and he is a big fan of LEGO toys. He wants me to buy LEGO toys and exchange them with him for a KFC bucket.
In this challenge, one migrant child and a city child wrote me a letter together. They are asking me about traditional food in our country for them.
For each letter exchange, we are supported by a buddy from China. All the buddies who were with me in this exchange challenge are really friendly and sometimes send us admiration e-mails after reading our letters. And organizing committee is also very friendly and easy to work with. We are now working on the same organizing committee representing our countries.
After completing the challenges
There’s no any difficult thing, only a small time of your day is needed. After seeing the reply letters of the children, you will understand how excited they are to hearing from us.
Here are some small souvenirs we received from Organizing Committee from SYSU MoC.
At the end of last year, there was an exciting conference, Global Count Down Carnival, with LETTSEE volunteers worldwide with new year celebrations.
Yes you can join…
An important thing to write this article is that SYSU MoC is hoping for more volunteers for this series. If you are interested in the project, I will guide you to sign-up and complete a challenge.
step 1: Go to www.sharethefuture.net and create an account
step 2: Select the challenge you want to complete
step 3: Go through the booklet and join the whatsapp group
step 4: Join the challenge
How to sign up for a challenge
step 5: Complete the assignments (greeting letter, photo, or a short video) before the due date
step 6: Upload and complete the challenge
All the instructions and assignments are mentioned itself in the IR booklet.
Take home
There’s no greater feeling than the satisfaction you feel for yourself.
Your small contribution can make a massive change in a child’s life journey.
Friends from overseas might be a matter to spend your youth differently.
As everything is going online in front of a pandemic situation, I found this helpful to spend my free time.
