On the afternoon of December 11, 2024, PVO Zhixing organized a charity market aimed at providing UWC students with a platform to showcase their talents while raising funds for those in need. During the last Zhixing session, everyone unanimously decided to participate in this event. We hoped that even though the children couldn’t attend in person, they could still take part in the activity and enjoy the joy it brings. Given the Christmas season, we decided to introduce the children to Christmas traditions from different countries with the help of international students and invited them to create Christmas-themed decorations.

We first visited a special education school, where we demonstrated how to use pipe cleaners to make candy canes and Christmas wreaths.

To make candy canes, we started by twisting two pipe cleaners together to create a two-tone pattern. After trimming off the excess, bending the top part formed the iconic shape of a candy cane, which the children found particularly delightful. We demonstrated the process as a group and then worked in smaller groups to assist the children with any difficulties they encountered.

The first difficulty is how to combine the two twisted rods together and how to grasp the frequency of the combination, some children will spin in place, some too widely spaced and thus destroy the aesthetic. Therefore, not only do we need to demonstrate over and over again, but we also need to ask the children to do it together with our members, giving them the opportunity to observe it concretely, and at the same time helping them to a certain extent, guiding them to complete it smoothly without interrupting their entertainment and learning effect.

The second challenge was ensuring the pipe cleaners were twisted vertically rather than at an angle, as this affected the final look. We patiently guided the children, helping them experiment, make mistakes, and then correct them. The children loved this activity and added their own creativity to the process, especially in color selection. One girl, for example, was very fond of pink and wanted to use two pink pipe cleaners. After learning that this would make the design less visually distinct, she opted for pink and magenta instead. None of the children adhered to the stereotypical red-and-white candy cane colors; instead, they used their vibrant imaginations to extend the concept and amplify the festive joy. Many children instinctively wanted to give us their creations as tokens of gratitude, and seeing their joy after completing the task deeply moved us.

For the more advanced children, we introduced the Christmas wreath. Making a wreath required additional tools, such as pens for securing the structure, allowing the pipe cleaners to be wound tightly and intertwined with another pipe cleaner. The children’s unique color combinations and creative touches, such as adding bows, were truly impressive.

During our crafting session, the school’s art teacher joined us in teaching the children. It was clear that the children adored their teacher, eagerly showing off their work. Upon learning that our group name was flower-related, the art teacher and our supervisor collaborated to make flowers in different colors and assembled them into a bouquet. We believe the bond between our group and the special education school will be as vibrant and strong as the flower bouquet created with pipe cleaners.

In the afternoon, we prepared milk tea, hot dogs, iced jelly, and oden, using the children’s handmade crafts to decorate the packaging. The students loved our food and were especially eager to chat with us about the stories and meaning behind it while waiting for their orders. Some even bought extra portions to share with friends upon learning that the proceeds would help the children. This showed us the strong support within the UWC community for such initiatives and the enthusiasm of UWCers to contribute in every possible way. Their support motivates and inspires us to explore further and lend a helping hand.

As the author, I participated in a similar activity last year, but mostly as an observer rather than an organizer. This year, the biggest difference I felt was that being an organizer is far more engaging. You need to consider market demand, manage your output, attract potential customers, and convey the message and emotions you want them to understand. All of this made the experience incredibly fulfilling. I hope to have the opportunity to participate again next year and bring even more exciting activities to the children.

Author：Johnny 朱君毅
Photographer：FFA Members

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