On February 26, SCMU welcomed participants to a special forum combining the “Serving the Nation, Building the West” exchange program with the “Joy in Learning, Leap in Youth－Volunteer Gathering”. Organized by the Hubei Province Western Volunteer Program Office and the Provincial Volunteer Association, the event brought together Youth League Committee representatives, graduate teaching volunteers, and active service members from more than ten Wuhan universities, including Wuhan University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Zhang Rui, Director of Guangming Daily’s Wuhan Office, joined the attendees as they discussed the impact of the newspaper’s coverage on western development efforts and shared their commitment to service in China's western regions.
He Maolin, Director of the Hubei Youth Volunteer Action Promotion Center, hosted the event, with Xu Benyu, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Youth League Committee, and other university program coordinators joining remotely.
Event scene. Photo by Guo Yaoqing
During the forum’s panel discussion, eight volunteers shared their experiences through video calls, including Jiang Xianteng, who has dedicated a decade to education in Xizang, and Wang Qiang, who has been instrumental in advancing the Hope Project in Qinghai. Their heartfelt accounts, focusing on educational dedication and the continuity of service across generations, offered a rich tapestry of stories showing how young people today are making meaningful contributions to western China’s development.
Event scene. Photo by Guo Yaoqing
These firsthand accounts deeply moved the next generation of volunteers preparing for their western assignments.
“Our responsibility extends beyond educating western children—we must also serve as bridges between ethnic communities”, said Xing Mingzhu, a member of SCMU’s 27th Graduate Teaching Volunteer Team and a five-year military veteran. She described her mission through the concepts of “devoted purpose”, “cultural connection”, and “personal growth journey”. Xing committed to expanding SCMU’s “Seeds of Unity” initiative, which strengthens national cohesion through programs like “Shared Letters”, “Shared Good Books”, “Shared Classics”, and “Shared Art Exhibitions”. These activities harness the diverse talents of students from all backgrounds to foster genuine connection and integration among young people across ethnic groups—bringing them together as closely as seeds in a pomegranate.
Representative Xing Mingzhu speaking at the exchange. Photo by Li Zimeng
Following these presentations, Youth League Committee leaders engaged in discussions about motivating more students to serve in western regions, each offering practical approaches based on their university’s unique programs.
In his closing remarks, Xu Benyu drew from his teaching experience in Guizhou to offer three guiding principles for volunteers: First, draw inspiration from exemplary figures like Academician Ren Zhouzhou and Teacher Tao Jiangang, evolving from those who seek light to those who provide it; second, nurture western students with compassion, planting seeds of hope through volunteer service; and third, embody unwavering dedication like “a screw that never rusts”, serving diligently without seeking recognition. He encouraged young volunteers to communicate the core purpose and significance of western development through community presentations, inspiring more students to serve where their country needs them most.
SCMU has now sent 757 young volunteers to western regions including Xizang, Xinjiang, Gansu, and Guangxi. The university has earned recognition as an “Outstanding University Project Office” in the National College Student Volunteer Service Western Program for 11 consecutive years, with more volunteers deployed than any other Hubei university for five years running. Looking ahead, SCMU will continue emphasizing national unity and cohesion while channeling ever stronger university support into western China’s development.
