"Winter-break classroom" solves the problem of families where both parents work

During previous Spring Festival vacations, Jiaotang Community of Bantian Street, Longgang District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, used to be totally empty and quiet. However, this year, the whole neighborhood is crowded with people and vehicles, bustling with excitement. New Era Auditorium at the community Party service center became a classroom, teachers wearing red volunteer vests are reading English sentences out loud with children with information related to pandemic prevention and control.

"What should we do before going outside?" Xiao Xishu, a teacher from Pantian School Afflicted to Shenzhen University, asked everyone after reading the English picture book "COVID-19 Virus Prevention, as Children You Can Do This". Fifteen children responded in unison: "Wear a mask!" Allowing children who cannot go anywhere during school holidays to learn about pandemic prevention and improve their English, where did this good idea come from?

It turns out, Longgang District wanted to let residents staying for the Spring Festival to receive intimate services. 118 Party service centers in the district provided flexible services at varying hours during Spring Festival, and made sure services would not stop. Under the advocacy of CPC Longgang District Organization Department and local Educational Working Committee, 223 schools and kindergartens in the district and 1,848 teachers actively responded and built up a volunteer teacher team covering all grades and subjects. These volunteer teachers headed to 11 streets and 111 neighborhoods to provide homework tutoring, extend extracurricular knowledge, cultivate hobbies and interest on the podium of “winter-break classroom” at community Party service centers. In addition, lecturers at the Longgang District “Parents Happiness School” will also bring about special salon activities on family education, to let parents educate and guide children in a more scientific manner, and help children to grow up healthily.

Xiao Ximei’s is from Meizhou City of Guangdong Province. This is the first time she is staying in Shenzhen for Spring Festival. As a CPC member, she has always wanted to contribute her part in pandemic prevention and control. After seeing that her district is hiring volunteer teachers, she applied and participated immediately, and prepared lessons with other English teachers on themes of pandemic prevention and control and transportation safety.

Liu Guangpei, Party committee secretary at Xiangjiaotang Community, states that “winter-break classes” are welcomed by community residents. Children who come to the classes will not only learn pandemic prevention and safety knowledge, but can also use opportunities to become volunteers at the library and spread such knowledge to more children. Xiangjiaotang Community has 60,000 long-term residents, in former years, 10% would spend Spring Festival in Shenzhen. Under the government’s call and invitation, this year, around 80% of residents stayed in Shenzhen. In order to let these residents have a happy and auspicious Spring Festival full of fond memories, the community Party committee prepared “Write Spring Festival couplets, send blessings”, “Happy tastes from my home”, sharing New Year’s Eve dinner and other colorful “Stay in Shenzhen for Chinese New Year” themed activities. Especially before the Spring Festival, “winter-break classes” and other 13 offline activities for adolescents had already been held, serving 600 people, which greatly alleviated the worries of families where both parents have to work. These little “winter-break classes” filled the community with care and love.

Contributed by: Yan Shenghe, reporter of Guangming Daily