In the vast lands of western China, young volunteers from Renmin University of China (RUC) are making a tangible impact. As participants in the “Volunteer Program for China’s Western,” these students have committed to grassroots work across Xinjiang, bringing new energy to rural education, youth engagement, and local governance.

From classrooms in Wusu City to live-streaming studios in Kunyu City, their efforts reflect a shared mission: to serve where the country needs them most and contribute to China’s modernization with youthful resolve.

One such volunteer is Zhang Dongyi, an undergraduate from the School of Finance. During the red date harvest season in Kunyu, Zhang stepped beyond his administrative duties to help local cooperatives develop e-commerce strategies.

He organized youth teams, built a livestream platform for red date sales, and refined promotional content to boost online engagement. “This experience taught me what it means to serve at the grassroots,” he said.

After completing his service year, he returned to RUC to pursue graduate studies, with a renewed commitment to western development.

In southern Xinjiang, Yu Fanglu, a graduate student in the School of Information Resource Management, encountered challenges of language barriers during household visits. She responded by joining efforts to promote Mandarin literacy.

“The idea of ‘all ethnic groups could be together like seeds of a pomegranate’ isn’t just a slogan,” she said. “It’s something I now live and understand.”

Inspired by a campus sharing session, graduate students Lai Shuxian and Huang Lixuan brought their passion to Hotan, a city where over half the population is under 35.

Lai took the lead in a local campaign, hosting livestreams that matched job seekers with employers in real time—an initiative that drew more than 3.1 million views.

Huang, meanwhile, proposed and helped launch a local public service WeChat account, “Hotan Social Work,” offering residents a direct line to policy feedback and practical support.

"Serving Xinjiang changed us as much as we tried to serve it,” said one volunteer. Across cities and towns, students blend youthful idealism with hard-earned experience—whether teaching classes, supporting local administration, or building platforms for civic engagement.

Such examples are quite a lot in Xinjiang. With each project, RUC volunteers reaffirm their dedication to becoming pioneers for a strong nation and pillars for national revival, echoing the program’s original spirit: to go west, go grassroots, and go where the country needs them most.