“An increased education opens doors and opportunities,” said Debbie Burns, who had no prior experience as a teacher, before going to China last summer to teach English. “It can change lives. It can make a difference. Getting an education is a big benefit in rural areas.”
Burns and her husband Mike, as well as fellow Knox member Sue Senior and minister Brooke Ashfield travelled to China with the Amity Foundation's Summer English Program, where teams — who aren't necessarily trained teachers — spend four weeks to help rural school teachers master the language they themselves have to teach, thanks to a restructured high school curriculum in China that sets high standards for English proficiency.
The Amity Foundation is the social service wing of the China Christian Council, the official Christian church in China. (Of China's 3 billion people, only 16 million are Christian.) Amity is ecumenical in the partners it works with, and will serve all religious groups; therefore, it does not encourage proselytizing. Leading by example is the mantra, as the foundation identifies major needs within Chinese communities, and works hard to meet them.
“Amity's strength is in its grassroots development that then encourages sustainable programs — intellectually, spiritually and physically,” said Senior. “The organization empowers all of the participants: the local institutions and administrators who host the program, the Chinese teachers who enroll in the program and finally the overseas teachers who deliver the program.”
This was the first Canadian Presbyterian group to participate in the program. The PCC used to participate in a one-year teaching program with Amity, and ran a China-Canada exchange in cooperation with the Anglican and United Churches, but this new program offers participants a short time away from home, yet fully immerses them in Chinese culture and community. Interest is extremely high, and the four annual spots are filled through 2009.
The team of four was placed in Zhangzhou, a port city in the Fujian province. The fact that there are few foreigners in Zhangzhou caused a stir when the Canadians arrived. “People followed us. They stopped their cars. They quickly helped us in shops. It was a little disconcerting at first!” said Mike Burns.
But it didn't take long to feel at home. “Our host teachers were so caring,” said Senior, a teacher. “We became good friends. They told us, 'We enjoy your joy.' That's the idea of their hospitality.”
“One teacher told me what a wonderful gift this has been,” said Debbie Burns, who noted how the teachers' confidence soared in just a few short weeks. “She finally felt able to be creative and to bring herself into her teaching.”
“Christianity is best shared by example and by the life we choose to live,” said Senior. “The modern day mission is best served by programs like Amity in our culturally-diverse world. We were reminded that support and guidance not only came from the Amity facilitators, our Chinese host school and The Presbyterian Church in Canada, but ultimately from our faith and scriptures. It was our faith and not our religion that guided us.”
