Led by Ms. Ning Xin, a teacher of the School of Marxism, the 16-member "Goodwill Support Action" rural outreach social practice team from Fujian Medical University, volunteered at the Liem Sioe Liong Memorial Hall on 10 July. Adhering to the spirit of "dedication, friendship, mutual assistance and progress", the team provided good quality services ranging from guiding visitors, maintaining order to acting as volunteer docents, earning high praise from visitors. The team comprised students from eight majors, including clinical medicine, pediatrics (5+3 program) and anesthesiology. 

Prepared meticulously to fulfil the mission

The essence of the "Rural Outreach" program lies in hands-on practice and selfless service. During the planning stage, Ms. Ning proposed incorporating "volunteer service" into social practice. This heartwarming concept inspired team leader Wang Danzhou. A native of Fuqing who attended overseas Chinese-funded Luhua Primary School in Gangtou Town and Fuqing No. 1 Middle School, Wang fostered a deep connection to the diaspora history of his hometown. This close tie made him decide to carry out the volunteer social practice at the Liem Sioe Liong Memorial Hall. Wang later presented us a detailed proposal which we fully endorsed and supported.

To effectively convey the stories of overseas Chinese and the inner spirit of Mr. Liem Sioe Liong, team members collected data online and visited the site in advance to familiarize themselves with the memorial halls and exhibits. On the day of the volunteer service, they received training in docent etiquette and emergency handling, and watched “Devotion to Hometown Fuqing”, a documentary detailing Mr. Liem’s monumental contributions to Fuqing’s reform and opening-up. His patriotic deeds deeply moved every one, fueling their passion for the upcoming volunteer service.

Moments in action: servicing the frontline with seamless teamwork 

Donning a red vest provided by us, team members were divided into four groups, each taking on the docent duty of one exhibition hall. Encouraged by demonstrations of our docents, they overcame the initial hesitance and gradually initiated conversations with visitors, whose warm responses dispelled initial awkwardness. The volunteers soon transformed from shy students into confident "junior docents," proactively offering assistance with smiles. Such progress is profoundly heartening.

Assigned to Hall 3, team leader Wang Danzhou leveraged his native Fuqing dialect to deliver contextualized explanations and answer questions at ease. When explaining terms like "Yuanzai" and "Yuanhong" to out-of-town guests, one instantly understood: "So all these buildings named ‘Yuanzai’ or ‘Yuanhong’ are linked to Mr. Liem Sioe Liong!" A particularly touching moment saw Wang crouching, explaining patiently to two young children who listened attentively. He supported his teammates as soon as his shift ended, embodying the spirit of teamwork.

Post-service review: spread history and relay the legacy

Through repeated storytelling, team members gradually understood the warmth and strength of Mr. Liem’s core values: Love your homeland; live your life by the principal of integrity; give back to society; and embrace inclusiveness. Looking at visitors pause thoughtfully before old photos or nod approvingly at stories of integrity, they realized that their role extended beyond relaying history, it was a passing of the torch.

The team’s volunteer service not only infused youthful energy to the memorial hall but also showcased the new generation’s commitment to integrating knowledge with action to serve the society. Their sincere efforts warmed our visitors and added a touching chapter to the "Rural Outreach" social practice. The story of diaspora heritage, tenderly retold.

Text: Lan Zhenhua

Photograph: Hong Ning