Yuyao students honor unclaimed remains through eco-burial

Students from Yuyao No 4 High School in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, have been honoring unclaimed remains through an eco-burial project that began as part of a student-led social initiative.

The most recent ceremony took place on March 29, when 20 students had a moment of silence for 54 bags of unclaimed ashes at the cemetery. Wearing raincoats and holding white chrysanthemums, the students scattered petals and planted azaleas over the gravesite. This act of remembrance was the latest chapter in a project that began back in 2014, when students discovered the troubling issue of unclaimed remains at a local funeral home.

The discovery led to the creation of an eco-burial proposal that included tree and sea burials, which was presented to the Yuyao city civil affairs bureau.

"We were struck by how deeply the students cared about this issue and how practical their suggestions were," said Xie Lixin, a staff member at the bureau, "Their efforts sparked the creation of the public eco-burial project in 2018."

Since then, students and faculty from Yuyao No 4 High School have partnered with the bureau to lay 243 unclaimed remains to rest. This year's ceremony, which included ashes dating back to 2005, marked the seventh year of the project and the completion of a long-overdue burial for remains from 20 years ago.

For many students, participating in the project has been an emotional and educational experience.

"When I held the ashes, my hands were shaking," said Chen Xinan, a first-year student, "I felt like I was the deceased's family."

Qi Jiacheng, who has participated multiple times, added, "It's taught me the importance of respecting life and the strength to face my own challenges."

The project has since expanded beyond eco-burials, with lessons on life and death integrated into the students' curriculum.

"As long as these flowers continue to grow, their stories will never be forgotten," said teacher Qian Jianbo, referring to the azaleas planted in memory of the deceased.