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Volunteers who take different steps forward
By Fei Lai |
May 23, 2009, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AT Changning District's communities, volunteers from home and abroad have always shown great interest in and wholeheartedly supported the preparations for World Expo 2010 in Shanghai.
By May 10, the district had recruited 1,716 volunteers for the Expo - the oldest a mere 80 years old.
Wu Huilong, a 65-year-old retired worker, has done his bit, producing four comic books promoting good manners, etiquette, energy saving and environmental protection among the public in the past five years.
"Haibao in Communities," his recent comic book featuring Haibao, the World Expo's mascot, has been well-received by his neighbors.
"Haibao is actually an image of Shanghai in my eyes. I'd like to allow it to demonstrate how to be a civilized citizen to Shanghai residents," Wu says.
"As the city government is sparing no efforts to improve infrastructure, I'm confident about the city's hardware.
"The quality of the residents, on the other hand, is the 'software' that shows the city's international level. That matters as well."
Behind the four comic books are almost 3,000 sketches carefully worked on by Wu himself.
The idea of painting posters to promote good manners occurred to him when he retired in 2000 and started working at residents' committee of Chengjiaqiao No. 2 Community in the district.
"Posters are easy to understand and eye-catching. Compared to newspaper articles with hundreds of words, they are more efficient in conveying good manners to the residents," Wu says.
"At first I drew on blackboards or displayed the posters in the communities' corridors. Later I started to develop the posters into a series."
Since 2004, when he retired from the residents' committee, Wu started to devote all his time and energy to creating advertising jingles and posters advocating good manners. He has completed 3,000 jingles (shun kou liu) now.
"I read the newspapers everyday for two hours, from top news to trivial incidents. I care about everything going on and get inspiration from it," Wu says.
"I keep a diary. When I am inspired, I will write down my thoughts. Sometimes when I think of something at midnight, I will get up and note it down."
His works can be seen in newspapers and some have won awards.
But more have been published on the communities' blackboards.
Two years ago, he was named "Shanghai's Outstanding Volunteer." Nowadays, he has become famous in the communities.
"It's my hobby and responsibility," Wu says. "I don't do it for the sake of fame or reward."
His son and daughter-in-law have also joined him, helping with scanning and typing. The family's wish is to update the posters everyday at the communities and to raise the quality of life for everyone.
Expats at Changning District are also enthusiastic about providing volunteer work.
Brenda-Lee Marks, an Australian who has been living in Shanghai for five years, is a super warm-hearted volunteer engaging in nearly all the volunteer events for her community in the district.
The 41-year-old has worked in the hospitality industry for 18 years.
She ran the half marathon in Beijing and Shanghai and ran a full marathon in Shanghai.
"I moved here because of my husband's job relocation in 2004 and soon fell in love with the city," she says.
"In 2005, my friend introduced me to the Chengjiaqiao Community and I enjoyed helping her when she was teaching the locals English."
The bilingual training they offer at the community attracts a lot of local residents.
According to Cai Xinyi, from the Chengjiaqiao Community, Marks has participated in many community activities, including voluntary tree planting, a tea ceremony, Red Cross Day, dumpling cooking, a cooking competition and voluntary work during the 2008 Special Olympics.
"She is one of the most enthusiastic volunteers in our community," Cai says. "Like breezes in spring, she brings warm care to everyone."
Marks still remembers the time when she became a volunteer. When she was 17, she worked with disabled children and helped them with their daily chores.
"One of the highlights of my time here is teaching English to mentally disabled children. They are so happy and enjoy getting taught by a native speaker," she says.
"Getting involved in local activities and volunteering in the community has made me feel part of the community as well as allowing me to meet amazing people and enrich my time here."
Marks wants to explore more of Shanghai, to learn the language and to have many more fantastic years in the city.
She is also looking forward to the Expo and is willing to help out as much as possible.
By May 10, the district had recruited 1,716 volunteers for the Expo - the oldest a mere 80 years old.
Wu Huilong, a 65-year-old retired worker, has done his bit, producing four comic books promoting good manners, etiquette, energy saving and environmental protection among the public in the past five years.
"Haibao in Communities," his recent comic book featuring Haibao, the World Expo's mascot, has been well-received by his neighbors.
"Haibao is actually an image of Shanghai in my eyes. I'd like to allow it to demonstrate how to be a civilized citizen to Shanghai residents," Wu says.
"As the city government is sparing no efforts to improve infrastructure, I'm confident about the city's hardware.
"The quality of the residents, on the other hand, is the 'software' that shows the city's international level. That matters as well."
Behind the four comic books are almost 3,000 sketches carefully worked on by Wu himself.
The idea of painting posters to promote good manners occurred to him when he retired in 2000 and started working at residents' committee of Chengjiaqiao No. 2 Community in the district.
"Posters are easy to understand and eye-catching. Compared to newspaper articles with hundreds of words, they are more efficient in conveying good manners to the residents," Wu says.
"At first I drew on blackboards or displayed the posters in the communities' corridors. Later I started to develop the posters into a series."
Since 2004, when he retired from the residents' committee, Wu started to devote all his time and energy to creating advertising jingles and posters advocating good manners. He has completed 3,000 jingles (shun kou liu) now.
"I read the newspapers everyday for two hours, from top news to trivial incidents. I care about everything going on and get inspiration from it," Wu says.
"I keep a diary. When I am inspired, I will write down my thoughts. Sometimes when I think of something at midnight, I will get up and note it down."
His works can be seen in newspapers and some have won awards.
But more have been published on the communities' blackboards.
Two years ago, he was named "Shanghai's Outstanding Volunteer." Nowadays, he has become famous in the communities.
"It's my hobby and responsibility," Wu says. "I don't do it for the sake of fame or reward."
His son and daughter-in-law have also joined him, helping with scanning and typing. The family's wish is to update the posters everyday at the communities and to raise the quality of life for everyone.
Expats at Changning District are also enthusiastic about providing volunteer work.
Brenda-Lee Marks, an Australian who has been living in Shanghai for five years, is a super warm-hearted volunteer engaging in nearly all the volunteer events for her community in the district.
The 41-year-old has worked in the hospitality industry for 18 years.
She ran the half marathon in Beijing and Shanghai and ran a full marathon in Shanghai.
"I moved here because of my husband's job relocation in 2004 and soon fell in love with the city," she says.
"In 2005, my friend introduced me to the Chengjiaqiao Community and I enjoyed helping her when she was teaching the locals English."
The bilingual training they offer at the community attracts a lot of local residents.
According to Cai Xinyi, from the Chengjiaqiao Community, Marks has participated in many community activities, including voluntary tree planting, a tea ceremony, Red Cross Day, dumpling cooking, a cooking competition and voluntary work during the 2008 Special Olympics.
"She is one of the most enthusiastic volunteers in our community," Cai says. "Like breezes in spring, she brings warm care to everyone."
Marks still remembers the time when she became a volunteer. When she was 17, she worked with disabled children and helped them with their daily chores.
"One of the highlights of my time here is teaching English to mentally disabled children. They are so happy and enjoy getting taught by a native speaker," she says.
"Getting involved in local activities and volunteering in the community has made me feel part of the community as well as allowing me to meet amazing people and enrich my time here."
Marks wants to explore more of Shanghai, to learn the language and to have many more fantastic years in the city.
She is also looking forward to the Expo and is willing to help out as much as possible.
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