Shandong county explores ways to improve well-being of local residents

People read books at a Center of Books in Qihe county. [Photo by Liu Lei, Sun Shuyi for chinadaily.com.cn]

Qihe county in Dezhou, East China's Shandong province, has ramped up efforts to promote the construction of various centers in communities. They are expected to play a big role in improving the well-being of local residents.

A group of locals, including Party members, volunteers, civilized families, most beautiful families, moral models, Good Persons of Qihe, and enthusiastic residents in the county, has been mobilized to make possible the change from "people seeking service" to "service providers seeking people in need".

The Center of Red Culture in Qihe county. [Photo by Liu Lei, Sun Shuyi for chinadaily.com.cn]

Qihe has built multiple different centers based on courtyards, hutongs, and other public spaces. For example, the Center of Good Education offers a wide variety of classes as well as childcare services to left-behind children in rural areas and children living in difficult circumstances, while the Center of Elderly People features cultural and recreational activities and activities related to physical and mental health, bringing vitality to so-called empty-nest seniors.

To date, Qihe has established more than 300 such centers with over 1,000 volunteers on duty. (Edited by Gong Jun)