Recently, the Youth League Committee of NPU received a letter of appreciation from the Youth League Committee of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region regarding the 2024 Summer Social Practice Program. The letter fully acknowledged the efforts of the “Youth Spreading the Voice of NPU, Promoting Unity with Ethnic Minorities” summer social practice team, which QMES guided. The letter praised their selfless dedication in embodying the responsibilities and commitment of young people in the new era and their contribution to strengthening the education of the Chinese nation’s sense of community.

In the summer of 2024, a team of 16 students from the 2022 cohort of QMES, led by undergraduate Wu Anbang, formed the “Youth Spreading the Voice of NPU, Promoting Unity with Ethnic Minorities” Summer Social Practice Team. The team travelled to the Guyuan Alley and Run’an Communities in Urumqi, as well as the Honghu campus of Xinjiang University, to engage in activities such as promoting Mandarin and conducting outreach on aeronautics, astronautics, and marine science and technology. Following in the footsteps of General Secretary Xi Jinping, the team visited the Guyuan Alley community, where they experienced firsthand the construction of traditional Chinese cultural education. They were deeply moved by the youthful voices of local minority children as they performed folk songs and recited poetry, gaining a profound appreciation for the charm of cultural integration. The practice team also conducted basic Mandarin pronunciation lessons and popularised knowledge of aeronautics, astronautics, and marine science to the community’s children. The experience culminated in the release of model aircraft, symbolising the planting of seeds for future dreams in the fields of aerospace and marine sciences.

In the Run’an Community, the practice team engaged in warm discussions with local staff, gaining a deep understanding of the spirit and culture of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC). During this visit, the team officially established a Social Practice Base and initiated Mandarin language and aeronautics, astronautics, and marine science knowledge outreach programmes for the community’s primary and secondary school students. At the Honghu campus of Xinjiang University, the team visited the university’s History Museum, where they gained a profound understanding of the institution's development during the turbulent years of war and its rapid progress since the reform and opening-up period. Following this, the practice team held an exchange meeting with the Youth League Committee of Xinjiang University, where they learned about best practices and experiences for promoting ethnic unity. This community outreach initiative directly benefited over a hundred students from various age groups, including primary, secondary, and university students, making a tangible contribution to the development of education in ethnic minority regions.

Going forward, QMES will continue to lead young members of the Youth League in inheriting and promoting the fine traditions of Chinese culture. The organisation will focus on supporting technological innovation, rural revitalisation, and other key areas, carrying out in-depth practical activities to continuously enhance the quality of social services. Through these activities, young students will deepen their understanding of the importance of fostering a strong sense of the Chinese national community, injecting new vitality and momentum into the high-quality development of Chinese-style modernisation.

Text: Yang Fenping

Photo: Wang Yunran

Editor: Chen Xinyan

Translator: Shen Xinyi

Reviewer: Cheng Yin