Connecting urban and rural areas: the role and impact of student volunteers in the Blue Envelope Letters and Pen Pals Programme
Journal: Region - Educational Research and Reviews DOI: 10.32629/rerr.v6i3.2007
Abstract
This paper provides an in-depth discussion of the role of university student volunteers in the Blue Envelope Letter Pen Pal Programme in helping rural children's mental health and its social impact. By establishing long-term letter exchanges with rural children, the project aims to provide continuous psychological support and promote their positive outlook on life and learning motivation, so as to effectively deal with psychological problems such as loneliness, low self-esteem and academic pressure faced by rural children. The study found that such programmes not only had a positive impact on the children's personal growth and psychological health, but also brought growth and satisfaction to the university student volunteers, enhancing their communication skills, empathy and sense of social responsibility. However, challenges such as resource allocation, volunteer recruitment and training, and supervision and evaluation are also faced during the implementation of the programme. The article concludes with a series of countermeasures and recommendations to overcome the existing challenges, expand the project's reach, further promote in-depth communication and understanding between urban and rural areas, and contribute to the long-term development of rural children and the overall harmony and progress of society.
Keywords
urban-rural connectivity; university student volunteers; letter and pen pal programme; cultural exchanges; sharing of educational resources
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