Students and teachers from an international school in Shanghai Minhang District have started visiting homes for the elderly and orphanages on a weekly basis to teach, clean up and help out in other ways.

The program, which was launched last month, currently involves 36 students and teachers from the Shanghai Rego International School.

"Our volunteer work includes teaching English, chatting with the elderly, and cleaning the floors and windows," said chemistry teacher David Frame, who set up the program.

The students and teachers break into three groups to visit various nursing homes and orphanages every Wednesday and Friday afternoon.

"The kids get to see different things, and also be involved in the public," said Frame.

Julia Schulo has volunteered to teach English at the Shanghai Qiyin School.

"You just have to speak slow," said Schulo, a student herself. "But the kids are very talented."

Schulo said she looks forward to doing more teaching when she returns from Christmas vacation in Germany.

Vivian Liang, another student volunteer, shares a similar enthusiasm. She chats with residents at the seniors home every week, and has just finished putting up Christmas decoration in the home's cafeteria.

"I made them very happy," said Liang. "It's not about what I have gained from this. It's what I can really do for these people."

Frame said the idea to set up a volunteer team of students and teachers has been around for a long time, but it took a lot of work to put it into action.

The Shanghai Charity Foundation's office in Minhang District has provided a lot of help, by preparing volunteer certificates for all of the team members among other tasks.

(Shanghai Daily December 15, 2005)