Former banker inspires youth volunteers
- By Wu Jin
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E-mail China.org.cn, July 30, 2012
Zhao Wenting, a senior high school student, is currently preparing for the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) with the aim of securing a place to study biochemistry in the United States. She is due to sit the exam after the summer vacation.
However, despite such pressing academic concerns, she took a week out of her studies to volunteer her time to help with the summer camp held by the Chi Heng Foundation for children from AIDS-affected towns in Henan Province.
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Yuan Xiaowen (front in a green T-shirt), a volunteer guide from the Tsinghua Red Cross, Tsinghua University's independent philanthropic organization, leads the children in their tour around the campus. [Pang Li/China.org.cn] |
She stayed for the duration of the camp, which began on July 16, and she made many friends among the participants.
"My father encouraged me to volunteer, and I found those children to be really amiable," said Zhao.
"I would really like to visit their hometowns someday," she continued. "And I'll keep in touch with them by whatever means possible, whether by letter or e-mail, I like them so much."
The Chi Heng Foundation was established in 1997 by the Hong Kong-born philanthropist Chung To, who was moved to action after being horrified by the plight of those living in AIDS-affected towns and villages. To has visited numerous campuses and institutions in both Chinese mainland and Hong Kong in order to recruit volunteers to work at the foundation's camps and events. The provison, though, is that volunteers should be prepared to pay their own costs and not expect to receive any payment, even living expenses.
The volunteers are clearly affected by the experience and by To's words. "I've never seen a neighborhood as poor as those [ I saw] in the mainland," said camp volunteer Chen Zhaoxun, who goes by the English name Steven and is a graduate of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. After hearing one of To's lectures, Chen traveled to the mainland to gain experience and hone his Mandarin skills. He also found time to volunteer with several philanthropic programs.
"In Hong Kong, people would probably view you as something of a nerd if you spent all your time in the library," said Chen. "I won't be like To [to quit his job and set up a charitable foundation] but I hope I can help the Non-governmental Organizations run more efficiently with the work experience in gain working with different companies."
Apart from the full-time volunteers, there are also some part-time ones, each with their own reasons for volunteering. "I don't want to distinguish between those children [living in AIDS-affected villages] and others," said He Chen, an English major from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications who is also interning at the Beijing office of Waggener Edstrom Worldwide Inc., an independent communications agency.
She added: " just treat them like the way I treat others."
Shaan, Waggener Edstrom's content strategist, explained that people need to be educated if discrimination against those afflicted by AIDS is to be eradicated. He also called for greater transparency and awareness concerning the living conditions of those in AIDS- affected towns.
Along with Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, Standard Chartered Bank also partners Chi Heng in fighting AIDS discrimination.
"We offer equal treatment to the orphans from AIDS -affected families if they are willing to join us on an equal platform," wrote Emily Xu from the bank via email.
Along with the work of the volunteers who strive to help change the lives of AIDS-affected children, it is clear that the man behind the Chi Heng Foundation has had a wide and profound influence in changing attitudes towards, and improving the lives of the afflicted group. To was awarded the 2007 Ramon Magsaysay Award in recognition of his work.
"I used to listen to To's speech in the campus," said Zhang Wenting, a thermodynamics student from Tsinghua University and also a member of the independent Tsinghua Red Cross. "He was really able to influence and encourage intelligent, capable people to make a contribution to society."
She continued: "He said the world is still afflicted by troubles and we should not make personal fame and wealth our ultimate goals."
"We need to take great care of the disadvantaged groups. [Because] true harmony can only be achieved when the disadvantaged are freed from their vulnerable state."
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