Jiangxi Volunteer Program

Background

The Jiangxi Volunteer Program was launched by Eastern Bridge in September 2024 as a formal component of the sister province relationship between New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty and Jiangxi Province in China. The program was designed to provide structured cultural and language exchanges through the placement of young New Zealand volunteers into educational institutions across Jiangxi.

The initial pilot involved eight volunteers, aged 20–35, who were placed in five institutions—three primary/middle schools and two universities—across the cities of Xinyu, Fuzhou, and Yingtan. The program duration was three months.

The initiative was jointly coordinated by Eastern Bridge Limited (New Zealand), Beijing New Bridge (China), and the Jiangxi Provincial Government’s Foreign Affairs office and Department of Education. All costs were covered by Jiangxi-based host schools and the provincial government and sponsorship, including international flights, accommodation, food, insurance, visa fees, and a modest living allowance.

Program Objectives

• Offer equitable access to international experience for young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Support English language learning and cultural diversity within Jiangxi schools.
• Promote long-term relationship building between Jiangxi and the Bay of Plenty.
• Build a pipeline for future education, tourism, and trade connections between the two regions.

Activities and Engagement

During their placements, volunteers worked alongside local teachers in English classes, delivered cultural presentations, and participated in extracurricular events. Volunteers averaged 15–20 contact hours per week with students, depending on the institution.

They also represented New Zealand at public and cultural events. Notable participation included:

• Xinyu Marathon (October 2024): Volunteers supported logistics and participated in cultural welcome activities.
• Fuzhou International Culture Festival: Volunteers performed a Māori haka and gave presentations on Bay of Plenty life, culture, and geography.

In addition, a short documentary featuring the volunteers was produced and distributed online and by Jiangxi Television. The documentary aired across multiple national platforms and was viewed an estimated 450 million times across Chinese online and broadcast media, according to media tracking data supplied by Jiangxi TV.

Social Impact

For Participants

The majority of volunteers reported increased confidence, improved cross-cultural communication skills, and a greater understanding of international work environments. A post-program survey indicated that:

• 100% gained basic conversational Mandarin ability
• 100% felt the program made them more employable
• 60% had secured employment or further study within three months of returning
• 100% would recommend the program to others from their community

Several participants had not travelled internationally before. The program exposed them to structured workplace environments, provided opportunities to present to large audiences, and built soft skills such as adaptability and professionalism.

For Host Communities

Schools reported positive feedback from staff and students. Teachers noted improvements in student motivation to use English, particularly in oral communication, and a noticeable increase in engagement during volunteer-led activities.

Host communities also benefited from increased exposure to New Zealand culture. Local government partners indicated that the presence of foreign volunteers helped elevate the profile of their schools and cities within Jiangxi Province.

Economic and Strategic Value

While the primary purpose of the Jiangxi Volunteer Program is cultural and educational exchange, the initiative has also delivered significant economic and strategic outcomes for the Bay of Plenty region.

A major development was the production of a professionally filmed documentary by Jiangxi Television, following the volunteers throughout their placements. The documentary introduced Chinese audiences to the participants—young New Zealanders from diverse social and cultural backgrounds, many from the Bay of Plenty—while showcasing aspects of their lives, motivations, and experiences in Jiangxi. It also included segments on the Bay of Plenty region, with specific reference to Te Reo Māori and Māori cultural practices.

The documentary was distributed across major Chinese media platforms, including national broadcast, provincial television, and multiple social media and video streaming channels. As of May 2025, it has been viewed over 450 million times. This unprecedented exposure has generated widespread awareness of the Bay of Plenty within Jiangxi Province and across China more broadly.
As a direct result of this media attention and associated engagement activity, Eastern Bridge and its partners have recorded a measurable increase in inquiries and interest in the Bay of Plenty as a destination for:

• International study tours: Four school groups from Jiangxi, each comprising 40 students, are currently scheduled to visit the Bay of Plenty between July and December 2025. Further expressions of interest are being processed.
• Long-term international education: The program has contributed to the successful recruitment and placement of 12 full-time international students into Bay of Plenty high schools and tertiary institutions as of June 2025.
• General tourism: Several families and education agency representatives from Jiangxi who engaged with the program have expressed interest in visiting New Zealand in a private or professional capacity.
• Trade and product inquiries: There has been growing interest in Bay of Plenty food and consumer products, with a business delegation planned for late 2025 to coincide with the second intake of the volunteer program.

Additionally, the program has created employment and scholarship opportunities for past and current participants. Two volunteers have been offered full-time employment in Jiangxi—one as an English lecturer at a university and another in a provincial-level basketball team. The exposure and partnerships facilitated through the program have also led to the identification of international scholarship opportunities totalling an estimated NZD $6.5 million, accessible to both former volunteers and other Bay of Plenty students.

Lessons and Next Steps

The pilot demonstrated that a fully funded, three-month international volunteer placement is logistically feasible, socially valuable, and well-received by both participants and hosts.
Eastern Bridge is currently preparing for a scaled-up 2025 intake of 20–30 volunteers. Program improvements will include more structured language support, enhanced post-return debriefs, and broader recruitment, with a focus on iwi and community organization partnerships.