Retired experts find new mission
Cleaning cowsheds has become more environmentally friendly as high-pressure cleaners are used to save water, thanks to the efforts of German experts.
In Shandong, agricultural engineer Dr Frank Schuchardt was asked to carry out a project on environmentally friendly cattle raising, and his advice on using environmentally friendly methods to dispose of cattle excrement and raising cattle has proved beneficial.
Combined with another expert's suggestions on turning compost more frequently to improve its quality, the way shown by Schuchardt has allowed excrement to now be used for fertilization purposes along with general cowshed waste.
These senior experts belong to the voluntary Senior Expert Service (SES) based in Bonn, Germany. It finds assignments for retired skilled workers and managers with companies, most of which are based outside Germany.
Since the SES was founded, the senior experts have supported more than 14,000 assignments in 152 countries, predominantly in the economic and technical sectors.
These experts come from over 50 areas of trade and industry, ranging from electronics and mechanical engineering, agriculture, marketing, administration, chemicals and the health sector, to bakery, butchery and carpentry.
"The assignments benefit both sides, the companies and the experts", Julia Haun from the SES commented.
Although there is no financial remuneration for these experts when they volunteer their services in China, to most of them it is more meaningful to engage in constructive work and at the same time learn about other countries and cultures.
"China is filled with vibrancy. There are new things to see everyday, it's very interesting. The streets are always crowded, even the residential areas are not so quiet like Germany's. In Germany, once it reaches evening time, there is no one on the streets and it is more depressing," Global Times quoted one expert as saying.
The charitable work these experts do is not restricted only to SES.
As Jrgen Sinn, editor-in-chief of German magazine Lenz said: "Just look at all the voluntary work that is done. The over-50s are active in sports clubs and choirs, they initiate and support social movements."
(China Daily 05/24/2007 page26)
