China has a vivid and distinct history, artistic tradition, cuisine, and social structure. Its rich cultural traditions are strong and complex, and date back to ancient times. Despite its past isolation from other countries of the world, China has a great diversity of races, religions and philosophies, from Confucianism, to Buddhism, to Taoism, to Islam.
XI’AN
Xi’an is the crossroads of Western and Eastern China and is the starting point of the Silk Road. Culturally, Xi’an is a mixture of the ancient and modern worlds of China. Home to the famous Terracotta Army, it was once the imperial capital of China. The metropolitan area of Xi’an is home to approximately 8 million people that represent Tibetan, Muslim, Han, and other Chinese ethnicities. With CCS, teens have the unique opportunity to work with local organizations that were previously inaccessible to most international visitors, and connect with individuals from a variety of backgrounds, experiencing a wide scope of Chinese culture.
THE CROSS-CULTURAL SOLUTIONS EXPERIENCE IN XI’AN
The CCS Teen Volunteer Abroad program is specifically designed to provide a safe and secure international volunteering experience for teens aged 15-17 years old. Learn more about the program components in Xi’an:
Volunteer Work: CCS works on several sustainable community development projects alongside Chinese community members. The volunteer work on Teen Volunteer Abroad programs is always a group-based project, designed to be completed within the program dates. These projects may include teaching English and arts & crafts in a local school, or participating in recreational activities with the community.
Cultural & Learning Activities: These may include an in-depth orientation, insightful discussions on cultural norms, Mandarin language instruction, guest speakers, and special events. Guest speakers are leaders in a variety of fields, and may include a local doctor to teach about traditional Chinese medicine, a practitioner of Taoism, or a traditional Chinese painter. Special events may include a visit to the famous Terracotta Warriors, Chinese cooking classes, or T’ai Chi lessons.
Free Time: There will be time in the afternoons and evenings to rest and relax in the CCS Home-Base with fellow teen volunteers. CCS also arranges optional, staff-accompanied activities to explore the community and culture. The groups are supported and supervised by CCS in-country staff at all times. The most common free time activities include: trips to local markets, walks around the local community, and trips to the internet café.
Home-Base in Xi’an: The Xi’an Home-Base is located on two full floors of a conventional apartment building inside the ancient city walls. Typically, there are four volunteers per bedroom—with bedrooms separated by gender—and basic amenities such as flush toilets, running water, and electricity are provided. During the Teen Volunteer Abroad program, only participating teens will occupy the Home-Base. Meals will be provided by local cooks at the apartment and will conform to the local cuisine, including traditional Chinese dishes with rice.
Transportation to and from the volunteer placement and any Cultural & Learning Activities will also be provided by a CCS licensed driver. Local CCS staff helps facilitate your volunteer experience and are always available to handle any questions that may arise. Learn more about the in-country staff in China.
