The visually impaired have a tough time coping in society. So it’s all the more important when volunteers do their part to help those less fortunate. Reading to blind children, is a job that thousands of volunteers have been doing for a decade in Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning Province. Today we’re going to introduce you to Lu Yi, a 26-year-old young woman, who is hoping to help inspire the blind kids, through carefully planned story telling.
This is her 150th story class with the kids. And Lu remembers by heart who favors detective stories and who is fan of fairy tales. For these blind children, Lu Yi is their light.
But it wasn’t easy adapting to their world.
Lu Yi, graduated three years ago. When she started working as a volunteer, she was surprised why these children resisted any care or help.
Lu Yi, volunteer, said,"When I told stories, they didn’t listen to me. It seemed that they didn’t care what you said at all. They just played by themselves."
Despite being disappointed, Lu Yi never thought of giving up. As she spent more time with them, she slowly began to understand a world she had never known.
Lu Yi said,"Let alone to run, it’s hard for them to walk. They don’t know what the world is like. They don’t know what lies before them."
Blind children are known to be more self-contemptuous and stubborn. They hope to be treated as equals and are sensitive when offered help. Lu Yi has to be very careful and tries to feel their world in their way. She rehearses her stories dozens of times before reading them.
Lu Yi said,"Never mention color. Instead of asking whether they have seen a goat, I’ll say ’have you heard a goat?’ I always check out the stories to see how to make it easier for the children to understand the world and not to hurt them."
Lu Yi told us the blind communicate by touching. When children start to like her, they love to touch her face. In their language, it means that they want to remember how Lu Yi looks.
- Can you remember what she’s like?
- Almost.
- Can you describe for me?
- Big eyes, tall nose bridge, big nose.
- Is Miss Lu beautiful?
- She’s very beautiful.
Lu Yi is one of the youngest volunteers at this library in Liaoning Province. Thousands of people have participated.
At the end of every class, children perform for the volunteers. Lu said, seeing these children’s happy faces is what keeps her doing her job.