About DaliangShan
Located in the Southern part of the Sichuan Province, Daliangshan is a heavily mountainous region known to the public for its breathtaking landscape and cultural sites. Primarily home to the Yi ethnic minority, Daliangshan is filled with small rural villages that face significant challenges daily life due to the terrain and lack of resources. Despite such struggles, the warmth and generosity of the local people gives Daliangshan a unique reputation that perseveres through hardships with immense cultural pride.
Life in Daliangshan is shaped by its famously steep terrain, and limited infrastructures. Only having basic roads and technology, education and resources remain scarce within the villages. To attend the scattered schools within Daliangshan, children often have to walk long distances along the dangerous hills and without directional tools.
As a symbol of both endurance and of hope, Daliangshan continues to be a popular tourist location. Beyond its natural beauty, Daliangshan remains to be a location where education can drastically change lives, potentially allowing for development that can allow the villages to step closer into a more hopeful future.
“When the Stone Falls in Liangshan, the Stars Light Up”
The project spearheaded by Ms. Tantan in 2021 was created in order to bring the traditional game of Go into rural village schools in Liangshan. Since the project’s launch, volunteer teachers taught students from the village through visits and online lessons. Through Weekly lessons and tournaments, children of the village are able to engage and develop in their critical thinking and cognative abilities.
With over 2000 students and 50 volunteers, the program has sparked a wave of development of Go within previously inaccessible locations, supported by individual and Go schools all across Canada.
Most notably, the initiative has developed a large community through social media platforms such as Wechat, where the public is also to check in on the progress of students in distant, rural locations.
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2021: Two on-site volunteer teaching trips with over 20 Go teachers forming two teams teaching at five primary schools.
2022:
Spring: Online Lessons due to Covid-19
Fall: Hybrid learning model with online coaching combined with in-person classes
2023:
March–April: Individual teachers entered numerous region early to begin in-person classes.
May: A larger team visit organized, with 5 teachers confirmed, including Ms. Tantan herself returning for her third on-site teaching trip.
2024:
Finalized Spring and summer in-person with consistent online checkin for students.
2025:
Continuous promotion across social media along with scheduled in-person and online check-ins.
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Recently, the 8th Yiruo Village Go Tournament was held. With over 210 student participants (41 Kindergarten students, 83 lower grade group students, 86 open group students), the tournament attracted mass attention amongst the villages and promoted the program to nearby locations that did not know of the initiative.
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Between the online mentorship and the in-person lessons, students are not only impacted by this initiatives in terms of their understanding of Go, but also develop patience, and discipline. The team behind the initiative is dedicated in providing the students with a fair opportunity to succeed through free resources such as Go sets, software memberships, and even cash awards for high-achieving students.
Ways You Can Support the Initiative
Volunteer to teach on-site through joining scheduled teaching trips
Donate Go Materials
Spread the word through Social Media
Donate to help cover the costs of transportation, tournament awards, printing materials, or school supplies
Any further ideas or resources to support the initiative!
