Communication key to aiding foreigners

I have met a lot of people from different countries living in Beijing through our volunteer team, and I have found that they really love the city. Some are married to Chinese people, and they truly regard China as their home and want to live better lives here.

But they encounter all kinds of difficulties and need a channel to voice their demands and ask for help. Foreign students may have problems finding a suitable job after graduation, newcomers may struggle to rent an apartment, and some parents may not be able to afford to send their children to expensive international schools.

What's more, some are experiencing anxiety because they haven't been able to return to their countries or travel abroad for several years due to the nation's quarantine requirements to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

By communicating with them, our team found that they really need someone to listen to and understand them, and offer them help. This is what our team is doing. We have collected their concerns about their living, social and psychological needs to serve as references for government departments.

It takes time to cultivate trust. Besides listening to their needs, we also include the expats in our chat group, where we update them with the latest policies and send them invitations to participate in activities.

The help we provide is also inspiring. After gaining more understanding of our work, the expats we assist also join us to help others in the community.

Some offer to share their culture or give psychological counseling, while others lend a hand in organizing activities. Their participation brings cultural diversity and innovation, and such services and activities help them make friends.

The international companies in Wangjing also give us a lot of support. For example, an international hotel offered us a free meeting room to hold a Chinese cultural experience activity, with some chefs with foreign language ability teaching expats how to cook Chinese dishes.

For a city to attract international talent and persuade such workers to stay, it needs to provide good services and create an international community for them to live in and adapt to local conditions.

It's a long process and requires a lot of effort, but we believe we are doing a meaningful thing. If you smile first, there will be a positive response.

Li Yingying spoke with Zhang Yi.