Community spirit shown by volunteers

Editor's note: Qingdao is a city with a long history of volunteerism. Back in 1916, the World Red Swastika Society - an organization grounded in religions such as Buddhism and Taoism - was founded in Qingdao and was dedicated to charitable and relief works. Over the last 100 years, volunteerism has thrived in the coastal city, with dozens of grassroots volunteer organizations establishing offices and offering services to those who in need. The following are some active cases.

Concerned with what he saw on the roads, such as road rage and a driver's inability to change a tire, Tian Pengfei, then 31, quit his job as a reporter in May 2014 to start an organization called Qingdao Voluntary Road Rescue Team.

"To be a member of the professional rescue team, first you have to pass a number of training sessions, including first-aid training, firefighting and emergency training," he said.

Each member's vehicle is equipped with a high-visibility vest, LED warning lights, jumper cables, a tow rope, fire extinguisher and other equipment.

By May, the team had recruited 1,152 volunteers as professional rescuers.

In 2007, Wang Jianmin started a voluntary organization in partnership with the Qingdao University Medical School Sign Language Association to offer sign language services at six major hospitals in Qingdao, the first hospitals to have sign language services in Shandong province.

Wang's organization has taught more than 10,000 people sign language in eight years.

"Sign language is for the deaf and mute. When I mastered the language I found that my hands could also dance and express wonderful thoughts. So I decided to share the language with more people," he said.

Wang's 22 formally registered volunteers have offered more than 2,000 hours of sign language services.

In August 2014, Wang founded his own sign language studio in Shinan district, offering training to locals so that they could communicate with deaf people.

In June 2008, the Shanhaiqing Coast Rescue Alliance was founded in Huangdao district of Qingdao.

It was the first registered volunteer organization in Huangdao. It focuses on disaster prevention and relief and emergency rescue along the coast and in coastal waters. It has also participated in various charity activities to offer help and financial aids to senior citizens, disabled people, and impoverished students.

It has worked with the government's safety office to organize training in escape skills, first aid, drowning prevention and rescue, as well as rescuers for flooding, thundering and traffic accidents.

They have joined in more than 70 rescue missions, carried out 53 training workshops, 11 evacuation drills and four emergency response drills.

Guo Zhen, a teacher at Qingdao New Century School, volunteered to teach children in a remote, impoverished town called Xinpu in Southwest China's Guizhou province in 2011.

Over the past five years, he has asked many of his friends and relatives to help the students.

Guiding county, where Xinpu town is located, is one of least developed areas in Southwest China.

During his stay, Guo taught English and physical education in three primary schools. He also spent his spare time training local English teachers.

After school, Guo spent time visiting the families of students. Gradually he shared stories of about 100 poor families to his friends and relatives, calling on them to join in helping the children. Their donations and assistance helped more than 100 dropouts return to school.

(China Daily 07/04/2016 page6)