Expanding Horizons in Meizhou: Envision Education’s Next Step in Digital Learning

Today was the day we had worked toward for so long. Following months of planning, fundraising, and travel, we were finally ready to set up our computer lab. After an hour on winding mountain roads, we arrived at a campus that felt open and expansive, with breezeways and classrooms arranged around a central courtyard thick with greenery. 

Stepping into a modest meeting room on the first floor, we set down our backpacks and were introduced to the school’s principal, Mr. Liao. Principal Liao explained that while the government had provided them with computers, most had become inoperable over the years. Midway through our meeting, the school bell rang, signaling a break between classes for the students, and before long, a group of curious children watched us through the open doorway, only for a teacher to rush over and lead them towards their next class.

Following our meeting, we were given a brief tour of the school. The campus was lively, with students reciting in the background after their teachers. Our tour concluded with a classroom on the second floor, where the existing computer lab was located.

The room was well structured, with two straight lines of tables holding four rows of old computers. However, just as the principal told us, the computer monitors were outdated, and many no longer functioned. Signs of disuse were evident; dust caked the tables and the monitors. It was clear that while the school had made an effort to introduce technology to its students, they simply lacked the hardware to keep up. This was exactly why we were here.

We got to work immediately. The first task was to clear out the old equipment, carefully unplugging and moving the outdated monitors and computers to an unused neighboring room for storage. Once the space was empty, we began unboxing twenty new monitors and keyboards and arranging them across the desks. This being the sixth lab we had set up using the same hardware, we had become quite adept at navigating the once-tricky assembly process. The familiar hum of activity filled the room as we connected cables, positioned screens, and made sure every workstation was ready.

By the time we finished the initial setup, it was already past noon. We broke for lunch at a nearby local restaurant, a small local spot where we sat together and reflected on the morning. The traditional Guangzhou food was simple and warm, a welcome break after hours of focused work.

In the afternoon, we returned to the lab with renewed energy. The monitors and keyboards were in place, but there was still plenty to do. We spent the next several hours tying up loose cables, ensuring the lab was safe and organized. 

It was during this time that we hit our first, and thankfully only, major problem. The Wi-Fi was so slow that most of the computers displayed a “No Internet” error. To solve the issue, we initially experimented with Ethernet, but the attempt proved fruitless, as the Ethernet system remained non-functional. In the end, we were thankfully able to bring in a local technician, who set up a second, faster Wi-Fi network capable of handling all our devices. It took time, patience, and a lot of troubleshooting, but by late afternoon, every computer was online and ready for the students who would walk into the lab the next day.

Breathing a sigh of relief, the team stepped back and admired the rows of PCs. These devices weren’t just pieces of technology; they represented a key to a whole new world of opportunity for the students. Tomorrow, the students will walk into this room, eager to explore, learn, and connect with the wider world.

As the day drew to a close, we couldn’t help but reflect on how far we had come. What started as an idea—one fueled by months of planning, fundraising, and countless hours of hard work—was now a reality. Tomorrow, our real work begins. The lab is ready, but it’s still missing its final piece: the students. Now, it’s time to see them bring it to life. 

Contributors: Jonathan Lueth, Micah Tang, Austin Tang