Miss Elaine Ho joined our organization as a Volunteer Teacher in 2018. In recognition of her outstanding teaching performance and dedication, she was promoted to Senior Volunteer Teacher in 2021. Subsequently, she was appointed Principal Volunteer Teacher in 2023, continuing to guide the teaching team with her professionalism and compassion. To further pass on her experience and nurture new talent, Miss Ho will assume the role of Volunteer Training Director starting in 2026, where she will be responsible for mentoring and training newly joined volunteer teachers, ensuring that this educational mission of impacting lives continues to be carried forward and upheld.
I have been volunteering at Little Dreams Free Learning Space for five or six years in a row, and this experience is really emotional for me. Despite my busy schedule at coffee shop management, I still make time to help students, for any reason.
When I first walked into Little Dreams Free Learning Space and saw the anticipation and excitement in the eyes of the children, I was really moved by them. Those smiles on their lips every time they learn new knowledge or get good grades in an exam are simply the greatest reward for my work. Once, a student told me that she was able to make it to the school’s honor roll because she had learned math, and her eyes were shining with such confidence that it made my eyes water. I understand that these small achievements will have a big impact on his future.
Secondly, although the coffee shop job is busy, it is because of it that I have been able to reach out to many people with different backgrounds and stories. Each guest has taught me about a different facet of life, and these experiences have made me appreciate the challenges the students face. In the teaching process, I apply my interpersonal skills to my students and slowly build a relationship of trust with them. Whenever I see students feeling safe and supported, my heart fills with warmth, knowing that in front of them, I am more than a teacher, but a friend to count on.
Over the years, I’ve met a group of like-minded friends and we’ve pursued that passion together. We will share our teaching experiences together and support each other’s growth. Every time we get together, we talk about the difficulties we encountered, and we encourage each other, sometimes we can even hold back tears because we all understand the hardship and beauty of education. That connection has given me immense strength to persevere and continue to do this volunteering.
Finally, I always believe that education is the key to changing lives. Every time I see a child go from not knowing to knowing, slowly growing up, and even being able to get into the ideal university, my heart fills with pride and joy. These moments for me, no matter how busy, can make me forget all the tiredness because I know that everything I do means something.
So, no matter how busy my coffee shop job is, I will continue to put in this volunteer work. Education is not just a mission, I hope to continue to help more people and fill their lives with hope and possibility because I believe that every child deserves the best future!