67 college students from China University of Petroleum (CUP) in Qingdao contributed to rescue efforts by helping Yunnan schoolchildren out of danger during the 6.5. magnitude earthquake which recently struck the region.

The students, all involved in a volunteer teaching project, were just finishing their work when the disaster suddenly happened, and they quickly settled all the children into a safe place before the quake fully stopped.

“I had just delivered a safety lesson on earthquakes and mudslides in the morning right before the disaster, supposing that some of the measures could be helpful in a region where the topographical and geographical environment is so complicated,” said Yang Chaojiao, an 18-year-old volunteer teacher.

“I never thought the lesson could be a ‘life-saver.’” The volunteer group also arranged emergency control of the school and conducted earthquake drills with students and teachers in case of strong aftershocks.