Xi'an

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Volunteer Work in Xi'an

Many people in Xi'an are familiar with CCS volunteers and enthusiastically welcome the opportunity to discuss volunteering and current events with our participants. Volunteers work on community-led initiatives such as:

Caregiving : Volunteers can care for children and people with disabilities in Xi’an. When Chinese parents try to adhere to the official “one child” policy, many children are abandoned. Volunteers can also work with children who have mental and physical disabilities to help them overcome the challenges they face.

Teaching : Most volunteers teach conversational English to students of all ages in kindergartens, primary schools, graduate schools, and various local museums. As people across the globe continue to connect, English language skills are becoming more and more useful. Volunteers give students the opportunity to learn English from a native speaker, and also lend an extra hand to the teachers in the classroom. In many cases, volunteers will also help working professionals improve their English skills through cultural exchange and practice in professional contexts.

Healthcare : Volunteers can teach English to medical students. While teaching English to local health professionals in visits to hospitals is not a typical healthcare placement, volunteers often learn a lot about the medical world of China through cultural exchange and discussion.

Volunteer Abroad, Insight Abroad, and Teen Volunteer Abroad programs are offered in China. Placements are always designed to match your skills and interests to the needs identified by the community.

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Cultural & Learning Activities in Xi'an

Through our Cultural & Learning Activities you will see the work of local artists and calligraphers, visit the site of the famous ancient Terra Cotta Army, participate in weekly Mandarin language classes, and engage in lively discussion on Chinese culture and society. Activities may include cooking classes, or visits from experts in the practice of traditional Chinese medicine or a local painter skilled in the arts of Chinese painting and calligraphy.

You will also learn about China's unique culture through guest speakers who introduce you to Chinese folklore, or traditional Chinese music and games. Field trips with staff will bring you to visit the Muslim Quarter, where you can enjoy the Muslim market and explore the largest mosque in China.

Most volunteers also participate in regular visits to local universities to meet with local students interested in English conversation and cultural exchange.

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Free Time in Xi'an

During your free time, you will have the opportunity to explore Xi'an. You might choose to walk around the city, visit art markets to find beautiful silk paintings or calligraphy sets, or go biking on top of the old city walls. The city offers many cultural performances to enjoy and a variety of historic sights to see.

Weekend travel to other parts of China, such as Beijing, the Great Wall, Shanghai, the Stone Forest, and the Chinese countryside is easily accessible from Xi'an.

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Home-Base in Xi'an

In Xi'an, the Home-Base is located on two full floors of a conventional apartment building inside the ancient city walls. The comfortable air-conditioned apartment has meeting rooms, a common space for relaxing, and a kitchen and dining area. Typically, there are four volunteers per bedroom. Basic amenities are provided, including flushing toilets, running water, and electricity.

The central location of the Xi'an Home-Base allows for easy access to shops, Internet cafés, and restaurants. Minutes from the Home-Base are banks, shopping centers, and laundry facilities.

Country Director for China,  Zhende "Jerome" Dong, says:

"Your volunteer work will not only help the local people greatly, but also warm their hearts and evoke their hope for life. And you will truly enjoy the saying, 'the real happiness does not depend on possessions, but comes as a result of what we do for others."

Meals will be provided by staff cooks at the Home-Base and will conform to the local cuisine, including traditional Chinese dishes with rice. Transportation to and from your Volunteer Placement and any Cultural & Learning Activities in Xi'an will also be provided by a local staff member.

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In-Country Staff in China

Local CCS staff in China will welcome you to the community, make you feel at home and help you better understand the culture. They help facilitate your volunteer experience and are always available to handle any questions that may arise. CCS staff is always from the region where we operate, so they can provide a local perspective, help you with learning the local language, and guide you in what to do in your free time.

All of our in-country staff members are warm, loving people who want you to feel at home and will make sure you are well cared for. Each CCS program site has a Country Director or Program Director and a full staff to take care of all programming, administrative, and logistical needs, as well as housekeepers, drivers, house guards, and cooks. Because the staff office is typically located at the CCS Home-Base, a helping hand is never far. Learn more about our China staff below.

Country Director: Zhende "Jerome" Dong
Jerome was born in northern China. Jerome has served as the Director of Programming for the YMCA of Shanghai, where he handled international volunteers. He later went on to establish the China Volunteer Corps, an organization devoted to promoting volunteerism within China among Chinese people. A fan of nearly every sport, Jerome is loaded with personality. He is passionate about volunteerism and works tirelessly at everything that comes his way

Office/House Manager: Yan “Makayla” Dong
As the Office and House Manager, Makayla is responsible for ensuring that everything in the CCS office and Home-Base is running smoothly. She coordinates all daily activities in the Home-Base and makes arrangements to ensure volunteer comfort, including all food and house logistics. Makayla works hard to make volunteers feel at ease and you can always turn to her with any problems or concerns. She is known for being very supportive and funny, and always has a positive attitude.

Program Director: Jun “Alice” Zhou
As the Program Director, Alice works as a coordinator between volunteers and all partner organizations. She provides volunteers with information on the Partner Programs and many other issues while volunteers are in Xi'an. 

Driver: Shihe Wang
Mr. Wang transports volunteers to and from their volunteer placements each day. He is also responsible for maintaining the House and makes sure there is always hot water and electricity.

Cook: Xinmin Zhao
Mr. Zhao cooks delicious and healthy local cuisine for volunteers at both lunch and dinner time. He is always willing to accommodate any volunteers with special dietary needs. It has often been said that watching him work in the kitchen is like watching a magic show.

House Keepers: Xiang Li and Liping Jie
Ms. Li and Ms. Jie work hard to keep a clean and comfortable Home-Base. Ms. Li is quick and neat and usually is up very early in the morning to make breakfast for the volunteers. In addition to working as a housekeeper, Ms. Jie also helps the cook, Mr. Zhao, in the kitchen preparing the food and will actually cook all the meals when Mr. Zhao is not there. Ms. Jie might be one of the quietest staff members at the Home-Base, but she has the warmest smile. She not only takes care of volunteers, but also the rest of the in-country staff.