China celebrates Int´l Volunteer Day

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-05-2007 15:20

Wednesday marks the 22nd International Volunteer Day. The occasion is officially recognized by the United Nations as the day to honor and celebrate volunteers around the world for their hard work and dedication.

Volunteer groups and individuals in China are holding a series of activities across the country to highlight their work at local, national and international levels.

This year's theme is "society needs more volunteers". Echoing the UN's call, China's Youth League has founded a youth volunteer association in Beijing - aimed at facilitating volunteer work among young people across the country. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sent a congratulatory letter to the association. The message calls for concerted efforts to fight some of the worlds problems such as hunger, poverty, AIDs and global warming. Ban Ki-moon also thanked the volunteers who have applied to work at next year's Beijing Olympic Games and Paralympics.

An anti-drug campaign has also been launched in Beijing - for a series of comprehensive and educational functions to promote anti-drug information at communities, entertainment venues and schools.

In east China's Shandong Province, many volunteer workers visited children at a SOS Orphanage - bringing them food, stationery and other essential items.

Volunteer Xie Xiaofeng said, "This is a valuable opportunity for us. By helping these children, we are also making contributions to society at large."

Also in Shandong, hundreds of volunteers took part in a feeding program at a swan lake. They say its their common hope that human beings and nature can peacefully coexist in a harmonious environment.

Many young volunteers in Fujian Province are initiating a special fund that aims to provide financial assistance for the education of poor children in remote areas. They plan to dispatch a team of teachers to these isolated places on a regular basis.

Since 1993, more than 25 million people have contributed over 6 billion voluntary hours in China.

Editor:Zhang Ning