Volunteer Abroad in China

Are you thinking of volunteering in China ? ToAncestor worship is a major religious theme shared
volunteer in China is one of the top volunteeringamong all Chinese religions. Traditional Chinese culture,
destinations in the world. The economic boomTaoism, Confucianism, and Chinese Buddhism all value
combined with the ancient Chinese culture is a greatfilial piety as a top virtue, and the act is a continued
pull for volunteers from around the world.display of piety and respect towards departed
Chinese civilization is one of the worlds oldestancestors. The Chinese generally offer prayers and
continuous civilizations. It has the world's longestfood for the ancestors, light incense and candles, and
continuously used written language system, and theburn offerings of Joss paper. These activities are
source of such major inventions as what the Britishtypically conducted at the site of ancestral graves or
scholar and biochemist Joseph Needham called thetombs, at an ancestral temple, or at a household
Four Great Inventions of Ancient China: paper, theshrine.
compass, gunpowder, and printing.To volunteer in China on a short term volunteer
Most languages in China belong to the Sino-Tibetanvacation, longer term or on a gap year break is a
language family, spoken by 29 ethnicities. There aregreat experience! It will give you a chance to make
also several major dialects within the Chinesean important contribution to the people of China, and
language itself. The most spoken dialects areto gain an in depth experience of the country and its
Mandarin which is spoken by over 70% of theculture that will stay with you the rest of your life.
population, Shanghainese, Cantonese, Min, Xiang, Gan,Most volunteer programs are based in Beijing or
and Hakka.Shanghai. These two great cities are a very
Taoism is an indigenous religion of China and isattractive place to stay whilst doing your project
traditionally traced to the composition of The Bookwork. Both Beijing and Shanghai are not cheap
of Tao and Its Virtues. The philosophy of Taoism isdestinations like other places in Asia so keep this in
centered on "the way"; an understanding of whichmind as it will be difficult to get very cheap
can be likened to recognizing the true nature of theplacements in these cities.
universe. Taoism in its organized form is alsoBesides the two great cities there are several smaller
considered a folk religion of China.cities and rural China where you can join a volunteer
Buddhism was introduced from South and Centralproject. Wether it is in a city or in rural areas
Asia during the Han dynasty and became veryvolunteering in China is great! Mostly you will be
popular among Chinese of all walks of life, embracedteaching English or taking care of children in various
particularly by commoners, and sponsored byprojects such as schools, orphanages and projects
emperors in certain dynasties. Buddhism is the largestfor disabled children.
organized faith in China and the country has the mostThe language barrier can be a problem especially
Buddhist adherents in the world, followed by Japan.when you start at a project so try to learn a bit of
Many Chinese, however, identify themselves as bothMandarin Chinese before you go which will make your
Taoist and Buddhist at the same time.stay much more enriching.