04 Actress Jiang Yiyan Volunteers as a Teacher

Actress Jiang Yiyan Volunteers as a Teacher Chinese actress has made headlines — not on the screen, but as a volunteer teacher in a poor mountain village. Jiang Yiyan, 33 years old, has spent over 10 years since 2006 as a volunteer teacher in Bama County in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Jiang’s volunteer work remained unknown to the public until a documentary on her work went viral recently online. The 17-minute film features an interview with Jiang and shows her experience as a part-time volunteer teacher in a school. Though some criticized her for making a spectacle of her volunteer service, many praised her for her good deeds. “At least she has brought change to the life of the children. 10 years is a long time for any volunteer. It is worth respect,” said a netizen. Most rural schools in China’s least developed areas lack teachers due to low pay and harsh living conditions. In the last few years, college graduates, white-collar workers and charity groups have been encouraged to work as volunteers in the schools. Jiang was born in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province in 1983. As a teenager, she studied dancing and singing. She began to act in TV series in 2000. Jiang entered the renowned Beijing Film Academy in 2002 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 2006. Jiang starred in various films. She rose to fame for her role in romantic TV drama We Have Nowhere to Place Youth shown in 2007. Her excellent performances in Deadly Delicious, Nanjing! Nanjing!, The Pretending Lovers, The Four, and Bullet Vanishes gained public acceptance. Jiang is also a writer and has published her literature work I Am Climber Little Jiang. She is dubbed exceptional climber in entertainment industry.