Related News
'Good Morning, Shanghai!' Have a great day!
By Pan Zheng |
April 25, 2009, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
GOOD morning! Good morning!" Last Saturday, passengers were startled near the Xinzhuang Metro Station when they were greeted by smiling young people. The friendly greeting put them in a good mood to start the day.
All the young people come from a public service volunteer Website, www.sh2club.net, set up by one man to recruit volunteers for good causes.
The founder is Wu Yili, a member of the post-80s generation known as Xiao O by other young people.
Why the greeting?
Wu says the official name of this activity is "Good Morning, Shanghai," launched around 200 days ago to mark the 600-day countdown to World Expo 2010 Shanghai. The idea is to show the friendliness of Shanghai people.
Every week, volunteers say "good morning" in different spots, such as Xujiahui, the People's Square and Hongkou Park. Over time, volunteers have noticed a change in passengers' attitudes. At first, the greetings confused them and they didn't respond.
Now, many passengers respond in friendship and also greet others. The team is expanding.
These days, "Good Morning, Shanghai" has moved to Minhang District. Every Saturday morning in crowded spots, such as Xinzhuang Metro Station and Friendship South Shopping Mall, passengers are greeted by happy young people.
Wu says he started the Website after the earthquake on May 12 last year. He donated and organized donations to the Red Cross, donated books to children in Sichuan Province, organized volunteers to visit quake victims receiving treatment in Shanghai hospitals, and held a grand candle light prayer in the People's Square.
This work made Wu realize the importance of organizing volunteers for regular public service. Then he quickly established the Website and volunteers poured in. Now there are more than 1,000 volunteers registered on his site.
The team has become one of the most active teams for public service in the city.
It seems like a full-time job, but Wu is only part-time "captain" of the volunteer team. He maintains the Website, plans and organizes activities, and recruits volunteers.
He says he sleeps only three or four hours a day and has spent 50,000 yuan (US$7,316) of his own funds. His friends often joke that he works nine days a week.
"The extra two days come from the sleep," says Wu.
Despite feeling worn out, Wu also shows up for volunteer activities, no matter how far from his home.
"As young people, we should do something for society," he says. "We shouldn't leave an empty memory from our young age."
All the young people come from a public service volunteer Website, www.sh2club.net, set up by one man to recruit volunteers for good causes.
The founder is Wu Yili, a member of the post-80s generation known as Xiao O by other young people.
Why the greeting?
Wu says the official name of this activity is "Good Morning, Shanghai," launched around 200 days ago to mark the 600-day countdown to World Expo 2010 Shanghai. The idea is to show the friendliness of Shanghai people.
Every week, volunteers say "good morning" in different spots, such as Xujiahui, the People's Square and Hongkou Park. Over time, volunteers have noticed a change in passengers' attitudes. At first, the greetings confused them and they didn't respond.
Now, many passengers respond in friendship and also greet others. The team is expanding.
These days, "Good Morning, Shanghai" has moved to Minhang District. Every Saturday morning in crowded spots, such as Xinzhuang Metro Station and Friendship South Shopping Mall, passengers are greeted by happy young people.
Wu says he started the Website after the earthquake on May 12 last year. He donated and organized donations to the Red Cross, donated books to children in Sichuan Province, organized volunteers to visit quake victims receiving treatment in Shanghai hospitals, and held a grand candle light prayer in the People's Square.
This work made Wu realize the importance of organizing volunteers for regular public service. Then he quickly established the Website and volunteers poured in. Now there are more than 1,000 volunteers registered on his site.
The team has become one of the most active teams for public service in the city.
It seems like a full-time job, but Wu is only part-time "captain" of the volunteer team. He maintains the Website, plans and organizes activities, and recruits volunteers.
He says he sleeps only three or four hours a day and has spent 50,000 yuan (US$7,316) of his own funds. His friends often joke that he works nine days a week.
"The extra two days come from the sleep," says Wu.
Despite feeling worn out, Wu also shows up for volunteer activities, no matter how far from his home.
"As young people, we should do something for society," he says. "We shouldn't leave an empty memory from our young age."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
