A stage for every child

A student-led arts project uses musical theater to give rural children space to express emotions, cooperate and find their voices.

Cai Dongjun raised one hand gently, humming the opening notes of a melody as sunlight streamed into a rural classroom. In front of him, the children watched closely before beginning to follow his lead — a small turn, a lifted arm, a line sung softly at first and then with growing confidence.

For Cai, a 22-year-old vocal performance major at the Communication University of China (CUC), the scene has become a familiar part of his public welfare work. Since 2022, he has been introducing musical theater to rural children who have limited access to arts education.