Young compete against each other to help others
A growing number of young people in Shanghai are taking part in "competitions" featuring innovative charity projects to assist underprivileged groups and help the environment.
At a recent regional competition, more than 600 university students gathered, hoping their creative charity work will win them a place in the national final next month.
The young people form teams to conduct their charity work – from recycling straw waste to help farmers, to setting up a scheme for elderly people to sell flowers and to helping retired athletes.
According to Sun Xiaolei, president of the Shanghai Federation of Students, more young people nowadays have big opportunities to offer their support to society, and that more can yet be done.
"Further cooperation is encouraged to realize charity goals," says Sun.
Zhao Tingting, 23, is studying at Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade. Majoring in economics, she has a keen eye for many economic problems in daily life.
"I think it's the responsibility of modern students to participate in innovative charity work," she says.
In the "Golden Straw" project, Zhao's team endeavors to help improve the utilization rate of straw – currently a major pollutant when burned – by encouraging farmers to weave straw handicrafts and using it as a mushroom fertilizer.
"Straw burning is really a serious problem, and while farmers are the root of the pollution, they can't do anything to change it. So we explored new ways to help them reuse straw," explains Zhao.
Her team has helped farmers establish workshops, and their weaving crafts have been sold in Minhang District and downtown's City God's Temple.
"Profits are made by farmers, and environmental benefits are achieved as the utilization rate of straw is increased by 12 times," says Zhao.
Shanghai native Lin Zhiwei, 22, has been involved in two projects in the past year.
His "Love of Cape Jasmine" initiative aims at reviving a flower-selling tradition while generating income for senior citizens selling the blooms.
The fragrant cape jasmine blooms are made into bracelets or temporary brooches to be pinned to clothing.
"We position the target market, design spin-off products, conduct online marketing, offline activities and one-batch procurement," Lin says. "Through our efforts, the income of peddlers has increased by 67 percent and the city tradition revived. Citizens now have more opportunities to see old peddlers selling gardenia."
Another project, "Rainbow Bubbles" seeks to boost the income and social recognition of disabled people in Shanghai,
"We have taught the disabled people to make soap and related spin-off products to sell through various channels," Lin says. "We have engaged 15 disabled people as staff and increased their monthly income from 150 yuan (US$ 23.6) to 300 yuan."
It is now Lin's hope to expand these initiatives to involve more students and work together to make more contributions to society.
"I firmly believe that business should be combined with charity," says Lin. "My hope is for society to offer a fair stage for everyone to demonstrate their abilities."
Sun Jian, a 21-year-old form Mianyang, Sichuan Province, is a junior student at Shanghai University of Sport.
Involved in charity work since 2010, the project most relevant to his major is supporting retired athletes.
According to Sun, there are almost 400,000 retired athletes in China, 80 percent of whom face problems such as unemployment and injuries.
Sun's team first helped former basketball player Zhao Shuaishuai who bought a snooker club after retirement, but his income barely reached 1,000 yuan (US$ 160) a month.
The students undertook extensive market research and introduced a business plan to boost club membership, which now stands at to 2,300.
Gao Chao, a junior student from Shanghai University of Science and Technology, assists farmers with direct-sale projects.
Source: Shanghai Daily
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