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A stage for every child

A student-led arts project uses musical theater to give rural children space to express emotions, cooperate and find their voices.

Updated: 2026-05-27 06:44 ( Z Weekly )
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Qu Guanlin (front right), a member of Shengyu Tongxin, teaches students musical theater choreography during a volunteer activity in Qingdao, Shandong province, in 2024. [Photo provided to China Daily]

A broader view

As the project has expanded, it has attracted a growing network of student volunteers and young professionals to help with teaching, coordination and outreach.

Among them is Liu Yukuan, a 21-year-old broadcasting and anchoring major at CUC who works directly with children in the classroom. He has noticed that while some children are eager to participate, others need more time before they feel ready to sing, move or perform in front of others.

Rather than pushing them, Liu adjusts his approach based on each child's temperament, offering patience and encouragement as they gradually become more comfortable.

"I've learned to slow down and see things from their perspective," he said."Sometimes what they need is not pressure, but time and support."

Another volunteer, Zhu Zhu, a musicology major at CUC, helps coordinate resources and organize activities. Although she is not directly involved in teaching, she sees her role as essential to keeping the program running smoothly.

"I'm not the one on stage teaching or performing, but I find great fulfillment in working behind the scenes," she said."It helps ensure that music and arts education resources are available to children in need."

For Zhu, public welfare should not end with a single visit or performance.

"It requires long-term commitment. What matters is making sure these resources continue to reach the children," she said.

According to Cai, the project has also built partnerships with institutions such as Beijing Normal University, bringing in students specializing in music, education and media to create a more structured support system.

For the volunteers, the mission is simple: to give more children the opportunity to experience art — and, through it, gain confidence in their own voices.

"Art should be accessible to everyone," Liu said.

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