Editor's note

Every child has many dreams buried deep in his heart. It was the center of the stage, the intertwined sonata of song and piano; That is the wonderful of the football field, the wind and the "kick in the door"; It's a lab where inspiration collides with passion for innovation... However, in remote mountain villages, it seems that it is not easy for children to realize their dreams, and in order to support their dreams, the whole society needs to work together and dedicate love.

On May 5, while presiding over the fifth collective study of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "Basic education should not only consolidate students' knowledge base, but also stimulate students' interest in advocating science and exploring the unknown, and cultivate their exploratory and innovative thinking quality." "Many of the children's wishes are rooted in the wings of exploration, innovation and all-round development." On the occasion of International Children's Day, we invited several children to write down their wishes, and invited the "big friends" who are dedicated to rural education to tell the story of helping children fulfill these wishes. I hope that more "wishlists" on the field can be realized, and children can have a happy, happy and healthy childhood.

Come! Sing a song for the world

Yang Zirui, a student at Fuping Bayi School in Baoding City, Hebei Province:

I come from a small mountain village and haven't been to big cities much. My mother told me that there were high-rise buildings, countless cars, and children my age would wear beautiful clothes to participate in various performances. That's my dream. I really want to grow up to be a musician and be able to perform on a big stage.

2022 has been my most memorable year. Together with my classmates and teachers, I stood on the stage of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Winter Olympics and sang for the world. When I think about it now, my heart will still be excited. I would like to continue singing and let more people feel the beauty of music with my singing.

Gao Yue, a teacher at Fuping Bayi School in Baoding City, Hebei Province:

Like Zirui, I have a particularly strong memory of 2022. At that time, as the leading teacher, I accompanied 44 children out of the mountains to Beijing to sing Olympic carols to the world. Most of the children are coming to Beijing for the first time, standing on the busy streets, and their eyes often show a sense of embarrassment and timidity, but as soon as they enter the training state, these emotions are replaced by a happy and confident light. In the end, they proved with their beautiful singing and generous and decent demeanor that the mountain village children also have a promising future.

In fact, singing the Olympiad in Greek was a big problem for us. In order to learn Greek, the opening ceremony director team specially invited two Greek teachers from Beijing University of Foreign Chinese to train the children. I also teach as I go, trying my best to help them master the correct pronunciation and language expression. For a dozen days, the children and I were almost enchanted. From class to class, from eating to washing, from walking to bedtime, everyone kept practicing pronunciation, humming tunes, and greeting each other in Greek. The effort paid off, and we finally passed the language barrier.

After more than a month of training in a different place, the children who have not traveled far are particularly homesick. I encourage them to contact their parents regularly by video, send them their favorite snacks, and let them play in groups... A classmate named Xinxin had the biggest emotional reaction, and once he actually hugged me and cried. I stroked her head and said, "It's okay, treat me like your mother, and hold me for a while when you miss home." "Slowly, I came to a secret with her: as soon as she pounced on me and hugged me, needless to say, she must be homesick again.

The time for the training quickly passed, and we ushered in the most exciting moment: when the ethereal voices of the children echoed in the bird's nest and their clear eyes looked into the distance, the whole world seemed to see the vigor of the sons and daughters of China, and saw the hope and future of the old revolutionary area.

In such a worldwide sporting event, mountain children have realized their beautiful dreams. Later, more opportunities to build dreams followed.

In 2023, I accompanied the Ma Lanhua Children's Choir to participate in the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. On the stage, children transform into cute baby rabbits and send sweet wishes to the audience. For this warm scene, every student worked hard while ensuring their studies and practiced every movement until they were satisfied. I still remember that before leaving from Fuping, I checked one by one, asked students to bring their belongings, and advised parents that "if the child is not at home for the New Year, we will take care of it thoughtfully, don't worry." After a while, the information in the parent group "ding-dong" sounded non-stop: "Teacher Gao, the child follows you, we can rest assured" "Teacher Gao, you have worked hard"...

Instantly, a sweet spring surged from the bottom of my heart. In fact, I also have my own dream: to let the children's songs go further and inspire them to raise the sails of life.

Look at! "Little flames" on the football field

Li Weihao, a student at Liyutang Complete Primary School in Daxu Town, Jianghua Yao Autonomous County, Yongzhou City, Hunan Province:

In 2017, I was in first grade. One day, I saw a group of big brothers chasing and kicking a ball in the school's simple playground, so I ran over to "watch" - it was a handmade paper wrapped ball, but the big brothers had a lot of fun. At that time, a voice burst out of my heart - "I want to play football too".

Later, I crumpled the paper myself and wrapped it with scotch tape to make a simple ball. As soon as I had the opportunity, I pulled my big brother to teach me to play, and slowly, I attracted many friends who love to play football like me.

Today, we have regular football purchased in stores, and the "dirt playground" has become a regular green field. I am now a regular member of the school football team, and my wish to play football has finally come true.

Zheng Shouneng, secretary of the party branch of Liyutang Complete Primary School in Daxu Town, Jianghua Yao Autonomous County, Yongzhou City, Hunan Province:

Our school is located at the junction of Xiang-Guangzhou, more than 90 kilometers away from Jianghua County, and is one of the most remote schools in Jianghua County.

When I first arrived in 2017, there were only a few humble houses and potholes, bumpy playgrounds on campus, children dressed modestly, and even some people wearing "patch jackets".

Gradually, I found that although the children have a hard life, they are healthy and active, and they usually like to run, jump and jump.

One day at the end of class, a few boys surrounded me and said, "We really want to play soccer, although we don't know much now, but if we practice more, we will definitely play well." Looking at their resolute eyes, I was moved: "Okay, then let's try it together." ”

In the beginning, there was no ball, no field. What to do? I thought hard. One day, passing by a third-grade class, I saw several children passing a paper ball to play, and the paper ball rolled to their feet, and I passed it to them with a kick. Instantly, a flash of light flashed in my mind: Isn't this "football"? So, I immediately started to do it, crumpled it into a ball the size of a football with waste paper, wrapped it with scotch tape on the outside, and kicked it a few times, which felt good. Give it to the children, who kick, run, cheer, not to mention how happy they are.

Later, with the support of national policies, the school conditions have undergone earth-shaking changes, and we have also established a football team, purchased professional football, formulated training programs, and used large recess and physical education classes for training. The children crawled on the court, fell and got up to continue kicking, never crying out that they were tired. Looking at the scars on the knees and arms of the "mud monkeys", I burst into tears and was deeply proud of them.

Later, the first elementary and middle school football league was held in the prefecture. After more than half a semester of "playing with life" training, we won the second place in the primary school category. The moment they got the medal, everyone hugged and cried into tears.

Since then, we have been at the top of the prefectural soccer tournament almost every year, and the young members of the soccer team have grown stronger and brighter. They, like clusters of shining "little flames", bring infinite hope to the mountain village.

Listen! Happy notes fly out of the mountains

Chi Yixi, a student at Gutian County No. 1 Primary School in Ningde City, Fujian Province:

I remember seeing someone playing the piano for the first time on TV, and I was fascinated: the bright stage, the beautiful music, the magical luthier, it made people feel like they were in a dream. I also want to learn piano.

Later, the school offered piano lessons. Under the guidance of the teacher, I learned the score, the rhythm became more and more accurate, and my heart was beautiful. I really hope that I can keep playing and let the sound of the piano accompany me to middle school and college, it will give me endless energy.

Lu Jiangjian, secretary of the party branch and principal of Gutian County No. 1 Primary School in Ningde City, Fujian Province:

Chi Yixi's obsession with music reminds me of my own story when I was a child.

I was born in the countryside, and my childhood neighbors played many musical instruments. He played "Liang Zhu" with a flute he made by himself, and the melodious flute sound still echoes in my ears. Every festival, there are puppets and troupes in the village, which makes me even more fascinated.

In September 1984, I came to Ningde Normal School and came into contact with the foot organ, accordion and piano for the first time.

After graduating, I took root in rural education, and 36 years passed. I have taught in 8 schools in 12 townships, and in July 2019, I served as the principal of Gutian County No. 7 Primary School in Ningde City. Here, I found that many children are very interested in music, but the school music teaching foundation is poor, and the hardware cannot keep up. So, I came up with the idea of starting a piano class for children.

To that end, I ran in many ways. In 2021, we successfully won the donation project led by the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and our school received 10 pianos at one time, and as the first stop of the "Fulfilling the Dream" public welfare station, becoming the first rural school in the province to have a piano classroom.

After the piano classroom was established, I guided the Young Pioneers to set up a piano club and organized music teachers to use after-school service time to provide piano playing guidance. In the afternoon, there is always a pleasant sound of "ding-dong-dong" in the piano classroom, and the children seriously practice their finger technique, learn to read music and play, and taste endless joy.

In 2022, invited by Fujian Qunxing Youth Art Research Institute, our school held a "concert on the cloud", where students played their favorite music to express the power of love. On June 6 of that year, I was also invited to take dozens of piano club students out of Gutian to Fuzhou Nationalities Primary School in Luoyuan County to participate in the public welfare activity "Sharing the Beauty of Music under the Blue Sky - Fulfilling the Piano Dream of Rural Children" sponsored by the Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Today, the school's music education system is more complete, and the "Sound of Nature" choir is intertwined with piano performance.

I hope that the sound of the piano can lay the foundation for children's happiness and let them enjoy a happy life on the wings of music.

See! Technology gives wings to dreams

Liao Changrong, a student at Tangtou Central Primary School in Nanbianshan Town, Lingui District, Guilin, Guangxi:

When I was not in elementary school, I especially liked to tinker with crafts and fiddle with gadgets. I thought that this hobby was just an interesting little game, but I didn't expect that after going to school, a science and technology course was opened in the school, and the teacher took us to "tinker" with more and more magical "gadgets".

My favorite activity was the wire gyro project, the teacher taught us a lot of tricks and it was fun. My biggest wish is to participate in the Science and Technology Games again and win a shiny grand prize.

Tan Anlan, principal of Tangtou Central Primary School in Nanbianshan Town, Lingui District, Guilin, Guangxi:

Participating in the competition and winning the grand prize is the dream of Liao Changrong, and it is also the dream shared by the previous old principal and all the teachers and staff of our school. In the past, the conditions of mountain villages were relatively backward, but now that information and transportation are developed, our students cannot "sit in the well and watch the sky". In 2018, our school began to try to participate in the Science and Technology Games. At first, the students were still a little unconfident, and the teachers couldn't stop encouraging and encouraging: "If you have a dream, you must pursue it bravely." As long as you work hard, there is always a reward. "Finally, the children gradually gained confidence and the technology activities also improved.

In 2019, I started taking students to the Science and Technology Games. I found that some students performed mediocre in cultural classes, but had strong hands-on skills. They found opportunities to excel in science and technology activities, so they joined the science and technology group, and their performance in cultural classes also improved a lot.

Air bows, water rockets and wire spinning tops are some of the kids' favorite items. A few teachers and I gave up our after-school breaks to make plans and take them to train and improve every day.

For example, Mr. Liao Shuwen and I are in charge of the wire gyro project. To make the wire spinning top a little longer, I tiled my desk and polished the wire and looked for the center of gravity whenever I had time. After a long time, I found the trick, and the rotation time of the wire gyro finally changed from 60 seconds, 120 seconds to 180 seconds... The students were also energetic and discussed the essentials with us whenever they had time. Their best time was 242 seconds, which is the longest in the school. Due to repeated practice, the students' hands were blistered and bleeding, but they were still full of interest and happy all day.

Water rocket teachers Liao Shide, Zhu Jigang, Wu Zhihua, Dong Min, Liao Qiudi, Zhou Youfang, qigong arrow teachers Cao Yuting, Huang Dongping, Yuan Xian, Tao Huiling, Zheng Fengjuan and many other teachers also spent a lot of effort on scientific and technological activities to protect the children's dreams.

Finally, we won two championships, one runner-up and one third place in the 2021 Guilin <>th Games; At the <>th Guangxi Youth Science and Technology Games Promotion Competition, he won two championships in the primary school group of water rocket ratio and air bow and arrow target.

Applause and flowers are inseparable from the support of the urban education department. I remember last Children's Day, with the support of the urban and town education departments, our primary school launched the "Science Caravan into Campus" activity. Looking at the curious eyes of my classmates, I seemed to see the seeds of my love of science quietly germinating, and in my heart, I understood more about the value of being a rural educator - to help children raise the sails of life and sail towards the vast blue ocean of the future.

Project Team:

Our reporters Li Xiao, Geng Jiankuan, Chen Yuanqiu, Long Jun, Yu Aihua, Gao Jianjin, Zhou Shixing, and Wang Simin

(Guangming Daily)