Lifepegs, the international lifeskills activity club in Changchun, northeast China, recently moved to a larger facility to accommodate and serve more members. I joined the host of volunteers who signed on to do up the place and had the privilege to work with many Chinese and international members and the Lifepegs staff team. The facility needed a lot of work but everyone appeared eager to face the challenge.
During my first time at the new property, the goal was to completely paint the first floor of the four-storey building. This space would serve as the primary gathering area. A member experienced in renovating gave a painting demonstration.
As I and another member painted a wall, a Lifepegs worker looked on making it obvious he wanted to help. I gave him my roller, and another member who also quickly became efficient in painting followed him. Reflecting on all the paint I used that never reached the wall, I think they learned better than I did. The day ended with several of us having a late but satisfying meal at an outdoor barbecue.
After the first floor was painted, we focused on the garden. A forest of overgrown weeds and even a large, solitary sunflower confronted us. Although there is nothing inherently entertaining about clearing garbage from a patch of earth, having fun was contagious as everyone joked and laughed throughout our effort. Having some landscaping experience, I shared my idea about building a wall to prevent erosion for a very uneven section of the yard. When a member suggested using wood for the wall, it provided an opportunity to explain which types of materials would last the longest.
After pulling out all the weeds, the volunteers discovered a lot of tile fragments, bricks, and plastic bags. These were collected in buckets, which we hauled down to empty into a large bin. As our evening ended, a truck arrived full of plants that needed planting.
It was indeed a precious and fun experience of learning new skills and enjoying teamwork as we worked together to renovate our very own clubhouse which we will get to enjoy with many others.
Guest writer Dan, Volunteer at Lifepegs