Umbrella for charities improves services
Print Edition
THE Wujing Charity Alliance has successfully harnessed the volunteer spirit in Wujing Town in the 12 months since it was founded, enabling it to provide a range of services to 30,000 residents.
Marking its first anniversary, the alliance now boasts 55 volunteer service teams under its wing, and 19 nonprofit organizations with more than 10,000 registered volunteers.
The services range from care for senior citizens and the disabled to free art classes and environmental protection programs.`
Volunteerism platform
“The federation is a platform for volunteerism,” said Zhao Yan, an official with the Wujing Town government. “The teams and organizations are more organized than ever before, and now they can share resources.”
Containing the Minhang University complex and the Zizhu National High-Tech Industrial Zone, Wujing has some rich resources to draw on. However, before the alliance was formed, volunteerism was often a fragmented effort.
The alliance provides training and incentives for volunteers. It also has designed a framework for projects to give them help with organization and management.
A case in point is a project called Protecting Mother River. It started in the Lujian neighborhood some 30 years ago, when local people decided to clean up trash from along the Wujing banks of the Huangpu River.
After the alliance was established, the project received wider promotion. Students and white-collar workers came to participate in the clean-up work, and a series of environmental protection lectures were established, attracting 15,000 people.
“I feel like the project was reborn,” said the director of Protecting Mother River, who asked to be identified only as Qiao. “More and more people are joining us to contribute to the health and scenic beauty of the Huangpu River.”
Qiao said environmental protection work needs to come out from behind closed doors if it is to be effective. Developing a high-profile project draws public attention and more people to the green crusade.”
‘Gather steam’
Qiao said the power of the alliance this past year has helped his group “gather steam.”
Others projects benefitting from the work of the alliance are the Sisters Painting and Calligraphy Society and the Green Garden.
The former gives free lessons in art, and the latter offers training in bonsai cultivation.
Before the alliance was formed, neither group was successful in finding fixed venues for their meetings. They were forced to meet in homes, which didn’t do much to attract more people.
The alliance last year them gave them a room at its headquarters to use for classes and exhibitions. Participation quickly doubled. In addition, the alliance also organized charity auctions of the art and bonsai works, with proceeds going to other charity causes.
“Participants now have a sense of belonging,” said Cui Koudi, a regular member of the painting and calligraphy society. “Every week, we have new people joining and that has been an big shot in the arm for our enthusiasm.”
Town official Zhao said the alliance is now establishing a database to record and analyze needs and more effective resource distribution.
“We hope we can create a complete services package, from assessing needs and forming projects to attracting volunteers and resources and distributing them accordingly,” she said.
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