Karina, a veterinary student at National Taiwan University, transformed into a panda expert for the most important activity of this Chengdu Summer Camp—the Shenshuping Panda Base. Here’s a little “Panda Classroom” from Karina on the bus—let’s check it out together.
Volunteer's Insight_Karina
From the moment I stepped into Songshan Airport, I felt like I had entered a completely unfamiliar place. Even though I have been to airports countless times before, this time felt different—I felt like I didn’t belong there. Around me were many unfamiliar faces, each one a child or parent whose relationship I would need to nurture and maintain over the next few days.
The Chengdu Children’s Summer Camp turned out to be an unexpectedly rich journey of self-exploration from the moment I met the children. I had never participated in such an event before, nor had I imagined myself as a leader, guiding the children through five days of activities and maintaining order. While keeping a joyful and enjoyable attitude, I also had to show the children appropriate authority to ensure the trip ran smoothly.
As I searched for the balance between fun and discipline, I discovered many things I hadn’t realized before, including my communication style with others, my ability to execute tasks accurately and completely, and how to interact with children in a way that aligned with the core purpose of this camp.
As the days went by, I gradually found this balance. I established good communication channels with many children. Although there were conflicts and moments requiring compromise, the overall outcome was very successful. The tight schedule was a bit unfortunate—especially on the first day, when we visited Wuhou Shrine and Du Fu Thatched Cottage. Both sites require cultural understanding and time to appreciate, yet we rushed through them like a train passing by, which felt like a missed opportunity. There were also some conflicts among the children in my group that day, though nothing similar occurred in the following days. The later activities allowed the children more time to explore, which helped make up for their earlier experiences.
The interactions among the volunteers were also very successful. We encountered unexpected transportation issues that required us to adjust our original schedule, leading to the cancellation or shortening of many evening activities. Yet, as youth volunteers, we were able to improvise on the spot, adapting and extending the activities we had prepared. This allowed us to successfully carry out the most important parts of the program. Through helping each other, our relationships also grew stronger. We shared late-night snacks and drinks, talked about personal matters, and I made many new friends. I hope we can meet again in the future outside of volunteer activities.
My favorite part of the trip was definitely the Panda Base—it was the highlight of the camp. We experienced activities that would be impossible elsewhere, such as observing pandas at extremely close range and handling bamboo for them—experiences I will never have again. That day, I also interacted with many children, listening to their thoughts, and most of them agreed it was the most enjoyable day of the entire camp. I feel very fortunate to have participated in such a special experience, gaining many memories I can share with family and friends.
Because I had to take care of the children, I didn’t get to fully enjoy Chengdu itself, except for the day at the Panda Base. Amid the noise and busy tasks, the only time I truly got to see Chengdu peacefully was at night in Dujiangyan, which allowed me a brief moment of calm and relaxation. Despite the busyness, I discovered many skills I didn’t know I had, such as singing in front of large groups, leading games as a host, and speaking confidently in public—all of which pushed me outside my comfort zone. While the Chengdu experience itself was limited, my communication and interaction skills improved greatly, which will be a huge help for my future endeavors.
I am deeply grateful to the ADLINK Foundation for giving me this unforgettable experience. Although exhausting, I truly enjoyed the personal growth I gained from this camp. Thank you to all the teachers for their hard work and planning. And thank you to my fellow volunteers—working together until 3 a.m. with no complaints—you are truly the reason this camp was a success! I look forward to participating in future activities that help me grow even further.
