Here are some facts FHL Volunteers learned about the local culture.
Local law allows one family to have three children, if a family wants to have more children, it has to pay a fine (10-20 thousand CNY). Per FHL volunteers' observation, most of families have more than three children, yet none of them are rich.
When a girl is married, her parents can get paid for 20-40 thousands CNY from the boy's family. Vice versa, when a boy wants to have a family, he needs to prepare 20-40 thousands CNY.
Going to city is just to make money, but home is better, regardless how poor it is.
Financial responsibility isn't taught through the culture, so is sanitary or health care.
Alcohol here is like tea or coffee. Our volunteers couldn't find bottled water in the village, but plenty of options for alcohol.
Most women had more than four kids, and most of them have never visited any gynecologist.
FHL hopes to support education in Liang Shan through:
Providing students in need with tuition.
If neccesary, support local volunteer teachers.
Wednesday, 26 October 2016
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Day 1: On the Road
FHL Volunteers left Xichang city to Zhaojue Town first thing in the morning by bus, then met with the local teacher, Mr. Yin in Zhaojue Town (~9:30 am). A local driver (Yi Minority) was hired to travel as a team. Then the crew drove to Ma Yi Village and visited some of the families there.
Day 1：Gathering
Day 1：Gathering
FHL Volunteers are from Dali Yunnan and Shanghai. It takes them one full day to get to Xi Chang, the capital city of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.
Dali - Kunming - Xichang.
Shanghai - Chengdu - Xichang
Students Walking to School
School starts at 10:00 am, so that kids have enough time to walk to school from the neighbor villages.
Day 2: Ma Yi Village
There is one kindergarten in Ma Yi Village. Other students go to the central village school to study. The local government is building a new kindergarten to facilitate early education.
Living condition is beyond imagination. (Ma Yi Village)
Living condition is beyond imagination. (Ma Yi Village)
Livestock in the Ma Yi village are very blessed.
Livestock in the village are very blessed. They sleep in the same room as human and can be found everywhere – on the street, in the house, at the yard, etc.
Ma Yi Cun Interview
A 17 Years old girl is back to village for Yi New Year (Nov 20 2016). She dresses unlike others, with clean clothes and a sense of fashion. She works in a factory in Shandong. Her salary is 2000+ cny per month, depending on her work efficiency. She has no education and shows distastes for the city job. When asking about whether she wants to go back to school, she thinks she is too old to get educated.
Ma Yi Cun Interview
A 6 years' old girl told us she was in kindergarten for only 3 days, they just learned a new song and she couldn't wait to go back to school (Unfortunately, the kindergarten is under renovation). She really loved school and wants to continue studying.
Day 2：On the Road 在途中
访问马约村 村民后， 我们向乐约村驶去。 路上颠簸坎坷， 最后6千米 未通车， 需要我们徒步上山。
Day 2：On the Road
After Ma Yi Village, the team drove to Le Yue Village, then head to Le Yue Country. The road was tough, and one can only got to Le Yue Country by foot for the last 6 kilometers. Luckily, the weather was quite pleasant and no one felt car sick; it is said there could be landslides during the rain season.
Day 2: Le Yue Village
There is only one school in Le Yue Village, with 2 buildings and 4 rooms, and 2 rooms serve as classrooms, 2 as teachers' dorm & office. There are 32 no. of kindergarten students and 25 grade 1-3 students. 2 teachers for kindergarten, 2 teachers for grade 1-3 students. It's also said the government is trying to build a new school.
Le Yue Cun School
Le Yue Cun School Building, play yard and classroom
Le Yue Cun School
Le Yue Cun Classroom and Teacher's dorm
Kids go to school before and after tendering the livestock.
Kids go to school before and after tendering the livestock.
Yi people is very hospitable.
Yi people is very hospitable. They always bring out their best to treat the visitors and they wait for the visitors to finish meals.
his family has 5 kids, the oldest one is only 8 years old. Wife has 4 brothers, 3 of them are mentally ill.
his family has 5 kids, the oldest one is only 8 years old. Wife has 4 brothers, 3 of them are mentally ill. This family has to take care of everyone, young or old, sick or disabled.
This is the only Christian family in the village.
This is a Christian family. They have three sons, one daughter. The oldest son (18 years old) lives in Xichang, working as barber, another one (16 years old) is studying at the middle school in town, and the youngest son is 7 years old, studying 1st grade in the village. The girl is only 3 years old, when she saw our volunteers, she brought out cigarettes. It's said that this is the only family in town doesn't consider alcoholism is normal and doesn't seek voodoos when they are sick.
FHL Volunteers stayed at the Christian family's oldest brother's house.
FHL Volunteers stayed at the Christian family's oldest brother's house as he is now working in the city.
Day 3: Le Yue Village Interview
Everyone here has a heartbreaking story, FHL Volunteers found her story quite astonishing:
Her name is Qu Mo Ri Zuo. Her parents are sick, and she is helping her grandmother farming in Le Yue Village. She has 4 younger sisters, 1 younger brother and 1 older sister. Her older sister is studying at Da Qiao Middle school. Her family can't support both sisters to middle school, so she dropped out of the school.
Day 3：On the Road 在途中
Volunteers walked and drove the same way back to Zhao Jue Town, had lunch, took a shower, and then headed to Si Kai Village.
Day 3: Si Kai Village
The elementary school in Si Kai Village is comparatively better than the schools up in the mountain. Local teachers said it is one of the best facilities in the region.
Music class
Music class
New School in Si Kai is under construction, it should be ready to serve the community by the end of 2016. Teachers here are mostly volunteers.
New School in Si Kai is under construction, it should be ready to serve the community by the end of 2016. Teachers here are mostly volunteers, just graduated from college. Per FHL Volunteers' survey, they don't plan to stay here for too long.
