Ex-drug users bask in after-glow of Sunflower team鈥檚 free movies
Print Edition
On October 19, the Sunflower outdoor movie team organized its 127th free movie night in Zhongshan City, south China鈥檚 Guangdong Province. Such a movie night can attract more than 300 guests at a time. But the non-profit project鈥檚 volunteers are no ordinary ones 鈥 they used to be drug addicts.
Since September 2014, the Sunflower team has brought hundreds of drug-related films to local parks, schools, basketball courts and squares on weekends, as part of the city鈥檚 anti-drug campaign.
The projectionists in the team are a growing group of recovering drug users who volunteer their time, with most of them now having a stable source of income alongside this part-time service.
As one of the earliest participants, Feng (pseudonym) said he has a close bond with the team.
Feng was a drug addict struggling to stay clean and fit before he volunteered for the project. 鈥淚 failed over 30 drug treatments, and my criminal records frustrated me for years,鈥 said Feng in decent dressing and with a fresh haircut.
He looked and behaved completely different when he was first included in the city鈥檚 assistance program to help recovering drug addicts integrate into society.
鈥淔eng was very indifferent about returning to society during his first two to three months at the city鈥檚 social work service center,鈥 said Huang Jingwen, a social worker at the center who provided professional aid to Feng. 鈥淏ut a year later, he began gaining confidence in our continuous assistance and guidance.鈥
鈥淚t was Huang Jingwen and many other social workers at the center who helped me out,鈥 said Feng, adding that their selfless support also encourages him to give back to society.
As such, Feng rushed to sign up for the Sunflower project even when the idea had only just been put forward. At that time, there were only four regular team members.
鈥淚鈥檝e got great pleasure and fulfillment from the voluntary work,鈥 said Feng, and gradually, he became the head of the team.
At first, the team was financially supported by the city鈥檚 union, but as it developed over the years, companies and chambers of commerce started to join in.
The Sunflower project is now completely self-governed with a total of 25 regular volunteers and stable sponsorship from the non-governmental sector, according to Wu Yongguang, a police officer of the city鈥檚 drug squad who initiated the project.
Wu said the project has provided a platform for many former drug users such as Feng who are eager to get more involved in the community and are willing to make their contribution to society.
The free movie night is held two to three times per month with four to five volunteers taking turns to pitch in.
Also, Feng has introduced five new members to the Sunflower project. These volunteer projectionists often share their experiences with the audience when the movie ends. Their struggles, they said, are a warning to all to stay away from drugs.
Apart from part-time voluntary work, Feng also runs a sound studio. As a music lover, Feng said he is passionate about his new career. At peak times, he can provide sound services for more than 20 performances per month.
Each time when a movie begins, Feng sits behind the audience to enjoy several hours of inner peace.
鈥淏y this time, I feel like I鈥檓 a glowworm, shimmering and bringing in warmth as the darkness arrives,鈥 said Feng.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
