On this warm Thanksgiving Day, volunteers from the Charity Volunteer Team of the School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences Red Apple Charity Volunteer Group at Shanghai Normal University took some children on a meaningful Thanksgiving journey. The volunteers vividly told the story of Thanksgiving Day’s origin and let the children understand the profound meaning behind this festival. Gratitude is not only gratitude to others, but also the awe and the cherishing of nature and of life.
Under the guidance of the volunteers, everyone had a spirited discussion of “How to be grateful to nature”. The children expressed their cherishing of the blue sky, white clouds, and green trees in their childish voices, and expressed their determination to protect the environment.
The children also made Thanksgiving cards by hand, turning their gratitude into words and sending them to the people they wanted to thank the most.
Tracing back to the past and inheriting its spirit
Teacher Ying Manwen, a volunteer from Fengpu Wuju, opened a time scroll of China’s aviation industry for the children, from the shocking explosion of the first atomic bomb to the great feat of the Chang’E project bringing back precious lunar soil. The children listened attentively, their eyes flashing with a desire for knowledge and respect for their ancestors. The fearless spirit of exploration of their ancestors, like seeds of hope, was sown in the young hearts of the children, inspiring them to study hard for the rise of China.
Care for health starts with teeth
Volunteers from the Shanghai Youdan Huli Dental Hospital were also closely involved. They used their professional knowledge to popularize the importance of oral health care for the children. They vividly explained how to prevent cavities, the correct way to brush, and the necessity of regular dental checkups.
The volunteers also led the children to hand-paint bags of their own, each one unique.
At the end of the event, the Shanghai Youdan Huli Dental Hospital volunteers also presented teeth cleaning kits to each child, expressing the hope that the children would improve their oral health awareness and have healthy teeth.
Gratitude is always with me
All the volunteers not only imparted knowledge, but also conveyed the power of gratitude. On this special day, the children learned to be grateful for the gifts of nature, for the ancestors who have silently contributed to the development of the country, and for everyone around them who cares about them.
Let us all carry a grateful heart, continue the warmth, and weave a better future with love for the children.