Unforgettable experiences create lasting memories, shape personal identities, and teach valuable lessons. One such event, for me, lit a fire that lead me to create a storybook for my personal project.

Three years ago, my mother, a university professor, had been conducting a long-term investigation to observe and study the customs and folk-crafts of the Dong people in a remote minority group village called Dimen in Guizhou. She took me with her to Dimen every year since she launched the project. For research reasons, we lived in the local ecological museum and visited different villages every day. The friendly and hospitable locals would always invite us to stay for dinner. Through this, and the many years and occasions I visited the Dong People, I built a deep connection with the villagers, especially the children. 

When I began constructing the idea of what should I do for my personal project, I suddenly remembered this unique experience, and thought, why don’t I write a storybook for the children in Dimen? I recalled how astounded I was by how isolated Dimen was and, due to geographical reasons, how limited their educational resources were. Most of the children did not have any kind of extracurricular book in their home and lacked awareness of environmental conservation or how to identify the specific breed of insects around them. 

This discovery helped me build the content of my storybook, which is about a butterfly’s journey to save its hometown from its heavily damaged environment. I hope my book makes a positive impact on the little villagers living in Dimen by providing them with knowledge of the butterflies from their hometown and how to improve their environment. I am hoping that they will have deeper connection with the story due to the personalized content. 

I spent around one month creating the product. The process from researching to drawing to layout and editing were all done by myself. I mainly used Research Skill and Creative Thinking Skill throughout the project. There were some difficulties in the production process, such as the lack of communication with the printing company, which resulted in the printing effect of the paper being harder than expected, but I managed to correct the problem after realizing the problem. The entire creation process was a challenge for me, as it was my first time using digital painting software. Naturally, I struggled with the unfamiliarity, but with continuous practice and the support of my previous drawing experience, I gradually became more proficient in this skill. The completed product, overall, was satisfying, and printed in both English and Chinese. I would like to say a big thank you to all those that provided me with feedback and help along the way.

On the exhibition day, I was touched by the compliments and encouragement that I received from teachers, parents, and students. I was able to raise 1200 CNY, which will all be donated to the local primary school in Dimen. Although I raised the funds, when the money is sent to Dimen, it’ll be under the name of CISH (Canadian International School of Hefei) and everyone who donated. The reason I organized a non-profit fundraiser was to raise funds for and spread awareness about Dimen. I want people to know that far from the city, a completely unique way of life and culture exists. 

Creating a storybook that belongs to both me and the children of Dimen was truly an exquisite experience—one that I never dared to imagine or put into action before. I am grateful to have had this opportunity and to introduce my audience to the scientific knowledge of butterflies and a place called Dimen.

by

Hana Ge 葛子涵

Grade 10

Canadian International School of Hefei