In November, the Greater Princeton Branch of AYLUS (GPA) members Ella Sun, Emma Sun, and other middle and high school students built a global platform for youth teaching. We believe teaching is an especially rewarding way to volunteer our time by helping other kids improve their grades and become better people. It is also a fun and effective way to improve our interpersonal skills and enhance our own learning.
The idea began in 2019, when Ella, Emma and a few youth teachers traveled to an elementary school in another country during summer break. The students there, having very limited access to education, only learned basic subjects such as Math. They never had English, Science, Music, or Art classes because there weren’t any teachers around to teach them. The youth teachers brought them their very first classes in these subjects. The students really enjoyed learning with the youth teachers and everyone had a lot of fun.
The principal herself even said that she has never seen her students so excited during class and showing this much interest! Our youth teachers also gained a lot from this teaching experience. It was very exciting and rewarding to see their students holding up their first artwork, singing in English, or even answering correctly on a question!
Plans were being made to return the following summer when, in the spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world hard. Virtual education became a part of students’ lives around the world. While challenges make people struggle, it also inspires new ideas. Elton, George, Ella and Emma, high school and middle school students who regularly take part in social services and are devoted to helping others, met to create a platform connecting passionate teachers with students, offering quality education through various academic and extracurricular programs. They believe students know students best, and that virtual education is the most efficient way to help as many students as possible around the world.
Since its formation, many excellent youth-teachers have joined and are currently delivering English, Chinese, Science, Math, writing, and Public Speaking/Debate classes to students worldwide, including Australia, Canada, China, Japan, and the United States.
Participants (11/11, 2 hrs): Ella Mengxin Sun, Emma Menghan Sun, Elton, George, Dennis, Hedy Yang, Lynn Sun, Cherry Meiyan Wu.
