After the epidemic outbreak, Sonia Barghan, an English teacher born in 1991 from the United States, is staying in Shanghai and is promoting epidemic prevention among children and their parents through short educational videos.

Sonia Barghan (photo provided by the interviewee)

Sonia Barghan came to Shanghai in 2017 and became a foreign teacher at a kindergarten.

After the winter vacation began in January, Sonia canceled her trip back home due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Although Sonia's family called her several times to ask her to return home, she refused.

While staying in Shanghai, Sonia decided to do something with her expertise. "We live in this beautiful country and friendly city, so I wanted to give something back," she said.

Although she is quite young, having been born in the 1990s, Sonia has already been engaged in education for 10 years. Recently she decided to make animated short videos as a way to popularize epidemic prevention to children and their parents.

Sonia has made six interactive videos, using vivid cartoon pictures and songs to tell children how to prevent themselves from catching the virus. The videos are being widely welcomed by children and parents alike after they were released.

"After watching the video, I would sing a song while washing my hands, and the children would sing along with me and run to the bathroom to wash their hands," said a parent.

Sonia, who stayed in Shanghai for the Chinese New Year, couldn't buy masks due to the short supply, so the kindergarten where she works immediately sent her 10 masks.

"In case of difficulties, the kindergarten has been my strongest support mechanism, we are a family." In Sonia's view, Shanghai is a warm and inclusive city.

"After more than three years in Shanghai, I saw a lot of kindness and sincerity from the people. When I asked for directions or needed help in the hospital, there were people who unselfishly reached out," Sonia said.