Fresh graduates volunteer to support education in Xinjiang

For most Chinese, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region is a place to go for regular trips and enjoy the fantastic natural scenery.

But for Zhang Xiaowei, the country's inland region has become a place to fulfill his teaching duties and strive to impart knowledge to children.

Zhang, 22, graduated in geography this summer from Baoding University in Baoding, North China's Hebei province. Along with 12 other graduates, he joined a local school in Xinjiang as part of the university's project to provide educational support to the region, which started in 2000.

They departed on Aug 11 for Xinjiang, a region about 2,500 kilometers west of Baoding.

"I will go to Qiemo county. No matter what difficulties there may be, I can overcome them and strive to bring knowledge to the children there, broadening their horizons," Zhang said before leaving for the region.

The desert county of Qiemo in Bayingolin Mongolian autonomous prefecture is known as a "small city at the edge of the sky". The county is located in the hinterland of the Taklimakan Desert, the country's largest desert, spanning 38.4 percent of the county's administrative area.

"I was born and grew up in a rural area, so I know how much impact a good teacher can have on students," said Zhang, who hails from Weixian county in Hebei.

Zhang's determination to go to Xinjiang came from his alumni, many of whom have taught in the region for over 20 years. "I greatly admire them and it has further strengthened my decision," Zhang said, adding that the university in Baoding invited many of the alumni to share their experiences with the students many times.

Pang Shengli, 45, was one of the first batch of 15 graduates who came to Xinjiang for the supportive education project.

He started working as an ideological and political teacher at Qiemo county's No 1 High School in 2000. Determined to dedicate his life for the cause of education, he has since settled there.

When he first arrived, Pang, being single, lived and ate at the school, which helped him be with the students all day long. He devoted all of his time and energy to the students, building a good relationship with them.

"At that time, a student asked me whether I would leave. It's as if when teachers leave, the students would have no one to rely on," Pang said.

It was then he made up his mind to stay there. "My motivation came from the needs of the students," he said.

With a teaching career spanning 24 years in Xinjiang, Pang not only gained a happy family but also became a key teacher at the school and an expert in his field. He has also mentored numerous outstanding graduates.

During his first 10 years in Xinjiang, he used to encourage students to go outside of Qiemo. But in the next decade, he wished for the students to go out to broaden their horizons and then return.

"Qiemo has developed rapidly. I feel that after completing the studies from outside, the students have a responsibility to come back and build their hometown," Pang said.

According to Pang, most of his students have returned to their hometowns and one of them has even become his colleague.

Like Pang, 26 graduates from Baoding University have settled down in Qiemo county since 2000, mentoring more than 20,000 middle and high school students, according to the university.

Inspired by them, more than 300 graduates of the university have volunteered to support education in China's western regions including Xinjiang, Xizang autonomous region, Chongqing and Guizhou province.

"It is the right way for us youth to serve the people and contribute to the country," Zhang said.