US duo on English mission for Hainan kids
Print Edition
Eddie Stephen Mills doesn’t look like a typical adventurer.
But two decades ago the teacher from Alabama uprooted his entire family — his wife and four children — and brought them to Wenchang on Hainan Island in south China.
Back then, the city was underdeveloped.
In 1993 there were no public buses and few foreign businesses, let alone foreign faces.
For Mills it was “a very different opportunity”.
“At that time, not many schools and organizations were holding a teaching program in China,” says Mills. “So I thought it was a good idea to be one of the first ones to be involved in the teaching programs.”
Mills’ first offer of work fell through, but the idea of working in China had taken hold.
When his second offer came, the couple accepted immediately, despite knowing little about the destination.
“Back 20 years ago, Wenchang was still a small town,” Mills recalls. “The first city bus came on Christmas Day, but now modern buildings are everywhere.”
Despite the differences, Mills and his wife Cynthia set about dedicating themselves to improving English education in the city.
In 2010, Mills established the International Education Exchange Association, or IEEA, a non-profit organization linking western teachers, local teachers and students. The couple started issuing poverty-relief programs in 2001. Two years later, their first English summer scheme opened, focusing on helping rural schools that otherwise may not have access to English programs.
Lin Chengliang, an English teacher in a local elementary school, is one of the trainees.
He says the program offers a great platform to communicate with foreign teachers.
“The training is very useful for our teaching,” he adds. “The foreign teacher can help our pronunciation so that we can teach the students.”
Since IEEA’s creation, the couple has brought more than 100 foreign teachers to Wenchang.
In 2004, Mills became Hainan’s first teacher to receive the National Friendship Award for his 10-odd years of education and poverty relief. Three years later, Mills received the Chinese green card, awarded to foreigners who contribute to China’s development.
Despite their own children returning to America, the couple have chosen to stay to continue helping China’s children.
“We plan to stay a few more years for sure,” says Mills. “I’ve got some young people right now and they will be trained to help run my organization.”
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