[00:08.99]READINGYOUNG VOLUNTEERS
[00:11.94]On the annual International Volunteers Day,
[00:15.41]the world acknowledges the work of millions of people who give their time to help others.
[00:21.03]Many of those who do voluntary work young people,
[00:24.66]and the numbers are growing.
[00:26.31]Around 24,000 Young Volunteers Community Service Stations in China are welcoming increasing numbers of Chinese Youth who want to make a contribution to society,
[00:37.33]and the work they are doing is important.
[00:39.60]As Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations said “…each contribution –no matter how small-can help make a difference”.
[00:48.67]Lu Hao, Li Ying and Meng Yu are just three of the 13.5 million young Chinese who are making a difference,
[00:57.21]and they are also discovering that being a volunteer brings many personal benefits.
[01:02.48]Lu Hao is a middle school student in Guizhou,
[01:05.83]who joined the “1 helps 1” scheme of the Youth Volunteer Community Development Project last year.
[01:13.38]Every Tuesday and Friday he visits and elderly gentleman who lives alone.
[01:18.39]“Mr Zhao is weak and cannot do much for himself without getting breathless and dizzy,
[01:24.01]so I give him some assistance
[01:25.76]I help with shopping, do jobs in the house,
[01:28.69]or read the newspaper to him as his eyesight is not good.
[01:32.34]But mostly we just drink tea and chat.
[01:34.98]He cannot get out to see his friends any more,
[01:37.83]so he enjoys having company.”
[01:39.79]Since Lu Hao began his twice weekly visits, Mr Zhao’s health has improved, and he feels more energetic and optimistic.
[01:48.12]Lu Hao has also found their relationship beneficial.
[01:51.60]Previously history was his weakest subject,
[01:54.65]but it is one which greatly interests Mr Zhao and they often discuss it.
[01:59.51]Mr Zhao’s enthusiasm had inspired Lu Hao to concentrate more on history lessons and his grades have improved a great deal.
[02:07.87]When Lin Ying graduated from ZhengZhou Normal University,
[02:11.94]she decided not to apply for a job straight away.
[02:15.26]Instead she joined the Go West Project organized by the Communist Youth League of China.
[02:21.40]Now she is spending a year in remote part of southwest China working as a volunteer teacher in a village school.
[02:28.17]“The people here are poor, but they have hoping to big hearts and make me feel very welcome.
[02:33.26]I am hoping to improve the standard of education in the school by introducing the modern teaching methods used in the east.
[02:40.39]It is hard work, but I get a lot of satisfaction because the kids are eager to learn.
[02:45.90]It is amazing to see how quickly they improve.
[02:48.86]I really feel I am doing something worthwhile and I am having a great time doing it”
[02:53.69]Lin Ying and the other volunteer teachers in rural areas have helped to achieve astonishing result.
[03:00.35]In one school the pass rate for the national exams rose from 25% to 75% in just one year.
[03:09.41]Education is essential to poverty relief,
[03:12.47]so Lin Ying’s work is making a big difference to the children’s future.
[03:16.62]At the same time she is acquiring valuable skills and experience for her own career.
[03:22.58]Voluntary work often opens u p opportunities for young people because employers and education leaders know that it builds confidence,
[03:31.20]self-awareness, good communication skill and leadership ability.
[03:35.88]Men Yu is studying for her master’s degree in Canada.
[03:39.51]She has a busy timetable, but still finds time for voluntary activities during the weekends.
[03:45.38]“Last month I took part in an event to help starving children in some of the least developed countries.
[03:51.63]Twenty-two of us went without food for 30 hours!
[03:55.26]It was a challenge, but we could drink as much as we liked and we had a doctor there,
[03:59.99]so it was not dangerous.
[04:01.24]We anted to promote awareness of hunger because every day children are dying of starvation.” |