By hannover-web.com In a recent exclusive interview, Mina Wa’er Aili, honored as a “Model Individual for National Unity and Progress,” opened up about her inspiring journey and her vision for the future.
“I aspire to help more children discover the world beyond their immediate surroundings and encourage young people from ethnic minority regions to embrace broader horizons. Together, we can integrate into our nation’s commitment to high-quality development,” Mina shared during a conversation while traveling with a national minority delegation.
Nineteen years ago, Mina left her hometown of Kashgar in the far west of Xinjiang to pursue her studies over 5,000 kilometers away in Ningbo, Zhejiang. Like many students from Xinjiang, she encountered various challenges, from cultural differences to language barriers, making her question her decision to continue.
“I vividly remember how my instructor recognized my struggles and would often reach out to me on campus, introducing me to local customs and traditions. It felt like I was receiving the warmth of a family,” she recalled. This supportive experience ignited Mina’s passion for extending that same warmth and helping other newcomers adapt to life in Zhejiang.
Mina eventually became a counselor at Ningbo Vocational Technical College, where she has spent over 13 years dedicating her nights and weekends to assist students. She has helped them adjust to campus life and cope with the loneliness that often accompanies being away from home.
“Whenever I see these students, I am reminded of my own journey. My teachers were there for me—comforting, encouraging, and guiding me,” she reflected.
Drawing on her experiences, Mina developed the “Mina Work Method,” a comprehensive approach to support new students through tiered, categorized, and timed service management. She also launched the “Mina Workshop,” which offers courses focused on strengthening awareness of the Chinese national community, helping students cultivate a strong worldview, outlook on life, and value system.
Mina’s efforts have facilitated the successful placement of over 4,800 skilled individuals into jobs nationwide, contributing to economic growth and fostering national unity. In her spare time, she actively assists students and residents from minority communities in overcoming language barriers, helping nearly 1,000 individuals secure employment in the region since 2019.
The Beilun community, where she lives and works, has implemented guidelines in social insurance, employment training, labor services, and compulsory education, ensuring that individuals from ethnic backgrounds can settle, integrate, and thrive. Additionally, the local government has formed a “school-community partnership” mechanism aimed at promoting harmonious coexistence among diverse ethnic groups.
Currently, Mina leads the “Happy Pomegranate Seeds” outreach team, spreading her message across communities, rural areas, schools, and businesses in Beilun, Ningbo, and beyond.
One particularly memorable moment occurred during a presentation in Guizhou province. Mina asked the audience, “What’s beyond the mountains?” When the children replied that there were more mountains, it struck a chord with her. “I want to show them that beyond those mountains lies a world full of possibilities,” she emphasized.
After the event, a 13-year-old girl approached Mina, asking for her contact information. Mina wrote a note for her that said, “Study hard and realize your dreams.” This August, Mina received a call from the girl—she had been accepted into a university in Zhejiang and expressed her wish to join the outreach team to inspire others to look beyond the mountains.
“Our outreach team is gaining momentum. We’re creating a ripple effect—one person inspiring a group, and that group impacting many, much like how dandelions scatter their seeds of national unity,” Mina declared with a sense of purpose. “In the future, I intend to instill a sense of belonging within the Chinese national community in the hearts of more children from various ethnic backgrounds, nurturing a new generation that the Party can rely on—one filled with patriotic dedication and responsibility for national rejuvenation.”
