Universal spirit

"When the scene in the movie showed Lei Feng delivering clothes to his comrades in a thunderstorm, I was deeply moved. This selfless dedication is a virtue that transcends national boundaries," said Phitchapha Prakopjinda, a Thai student at Shenyang University of Chemical Technology.

On March 4, around 40 international students from more than 20 countries, including Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Russia, and Mongolia, gathered in a classroom to watch a film about this well-known Chinese role model.

Mahammud Shire Sudi, a doctoral student from Kenya, was particularly moved when he saw Lei Feng helping an elderly woman push her cart.

"At first, I thought Lei Feng was a Chinese war hero, but I was surprised to learn that he was known for doing ordinary things," he said. "In Kenya, we have the 'Harambee' spirit, which means 'pulling together', where people collectively solve community problems. But Lei Feng's story showed me the power of individual persistence."

Sudi also reflected on the term "screw" that Lei Feng used to describe himself. "This metaphor is so precise — a small screw may seem ordinary, but it keeps the entire machine running smoothly," he said. "I want to bring this spirit back to Kenya and practice it in our daily lives. It is invaluable for promoting social development."

Onuchina Anna, a Russian student studying international economics and trade, was especially impressed by Lei Feng's frugality. "He used every penny where it was needed. This kind of optimal resource allocation is also very important in economics," she said.

Prakopjinda explained that in Thailand, people also value the spirit of helping others.

"We call it 'Namjai', meaning 'generous heart'. Lei Feng's story truly illustrates this spirit," she said. "After watching the movie, I messaged my parents in Thailand to tell them about this inspiring figure."

At the end of the activity, Carlos Rodriguez, a Mexican student, made an unexpected suggestion: "Could we form an 'International Lei Feng Team' to do volunteer work on campus regularly?"

The proposal was met with immediate enthusiasm.

"This is exactly the purpose of our activity — to let the Lei Feng spirit take root among young people from different cultural backgrounds," said Professor Wang Zhong from the School of International Education.

After the event, the students didn't rush to leave. Instead, they gathered in small groups to continue discussing Lei Feng's story and the tradition of Chinese volunteer service.

Aida Bakanova, an environmental engineering student from Kyrgyzstan, resonated with Lei Feng's actions in saving food and cherishing resources.

"This aligns perfectly with modern environmental protection concepts," she said. "Whether in China or Central Asia, protecting the environment requires everyone to start with small actions, just like Lei Feng."

Anna agreed. "Lei Feng is like a bridge connecting young people from different countries," she said. "He shows us that, regardless of our nationality, we can all make the world warmer through our actions."

Liu Shicheng contributed to this story.

wuyong@chinadaily.com.cn