My Global Citizenship (GC) journeys at Dulwich began before my Head Prefect tenure. In Junior School, I was heavily involved with sustainability works inside and outside of classrooms. Whether that is cooperating with the EcoPanthers or participating in environmental science projects on issues of climate change during science lessons, I have had many exposures to the many service-oriented resources under Dulwich’s expansive GC network. However, the continuation of my GC journey in Senior School extends beyond my previous GC experiences, occurring through my personal experiences of poverty and social injustices during my family road trip across the United States.
When arriving in Baltimore, Maryland in 2020, my family and I were shocked to witness the poverty-stricken challenges firsthand. Homeless people totaled more than a hundred in multiple neighborhoods. Their destitute and dirty, ragged clothes saddened me. Although I have read a lot about poverty and inequality, I was unaccustomed to the new environment as the economic discrepancies between Shanghai and Baltimore are merely too large. However, the uneasiness of living in poverty-stricken neighborhoods quickly transformed into sorrow and guilt, leading me to cultivate strong levels of empathy for the poor. From this, my definition of service has grown many folds: coming from a privileged family, I felt a duty to serve those in need.
Coming back to Dulwich, I wanted to expand my horizons within the GC community. My first involvement came from my participation as the One Voice ambassador along with my contribution to the $2 a Day Challenge. Filled with thought-provoking keynote speakers, workshops, and unique and diverse Action Plans, the annual One Voice Summit has put me in the perspective of both a learner and a teacher. As a learner, foreign litigator Kimberly Motley’s inspiring narratives on the topic of social justice in Afghanistan deepened my understanding of the severe gender inequalities in the Middle East and compelled me to positively contribute to different social justice empowerment opportunities at Dulwich and beyond. I have learned that service extends beyond environmental issues, addressing humanitarian issues on a local and global level. As a leader, I have had the experience to lead different Light Bulb sessions over two days; I provided meaningful and fun debrief activities to the Keynote events and workshops while my partner executed interactive online activities that provided deeper insights into how they could make a difference on food sustainability and social justice.
Helping out and participating in the annual $2 a Day was a rewarding experience that raises awareness over my personal privileges. The economic constraints of living under $2 a day inspire me to reflect upon my role in society and motivate me to become more socially conscious of my dietary habits. I was certainly astonished to see how little $2 a Day is when I experienced it myself, and yet over 1.4 billion people around the world are still undergoing such destitution currently.
My heightened awareness of my privileges and advantages later encouraged me to be part of the organizing committee for Quiz Night in Year 12. Whether that is reaching out to external sponsors for funding or getting participants to join, it was a tiring and difficult process initially. But the memorable experience and the final rewards reassured me that our hard work paid off. By the end of the event, the GC community was able to accrue over 121,000 RMB, which was a major achievement. The funds were later donated to Dulwich’s long-lasting partner the Peace Center Uganda, helping to establish adequate educational facilities and resources that fulfill the basic needs of students in Uganda. Personally, the final reward entailed so much more than just a number: in my mind, I knew we had provided education to underprivileged students in another part of the world, making a positive difference to UN SDG Goal No. 4 Quality Education.
Finally, when reflecting upon the impacts that the GC community had made, I notice that our service contribution does not occur in the portfolio alone but also interweaves with other CCAs unrelated to the GC portfolio. For instance, the Dulwich Pudong String and Band Whizzes CCA combined service with music, teaching, and mentoring Year 5 students on their respective instruments for free. The annual service concert in the Junior School quad has not only raised awareness over the many service partnerships at Dulwich but makes service a part of our school curriculum and a hobby of students. In sports, the annual SLAM event encourages students to earn house points, which get transferred to Polio vaccines for underprivileged children around the world. All these CCAs and major events have shown how Dulwich lives up to its motto of “Detur Pons Mundo”: we have not only bridged students' identities within our school but established strong service connections outside of the Dulwich network.
Up to this date, I am so grateful for the family road trip to Baltimore. Without it, I would never have found my inspiration to create positive impacts on behalf of the GC community at Dulwich.
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