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Jing’an
keyw rds Editor’s note:
Jing’an sits at the heart of Shanghai. It represents the essence of the history and culture of the city, home to
century-old buildings, big-name attractions, glitzy retail malls and charming art galleries. Annual music and art
events give the district a distinctive ambience. In this series, we showcase the highlights of Jing’an.

Tuesday

28 April
2020

C

Jing’an promotes
community volunteer
services at the New Era
Civilization Practice
Center. — Ti Gong

April Keywords
Grassroots volunteerism

Li Qian seen a rise in volunteer work.
Volunteers from Shanghai Jinggong
ow can we raise the level of civic Group have been working at the Shanghai
responsibility to create a better Railway Station since February 26 to ensure
community? As one solution,
HJing’an has drafted a plan to im- that everyone entering the city is healthy.
The group has also collected urgent medi-
prove volunteer services.
Under the plan, every subdistrict and cal supplies for front-line workers.
town in Jing’an will have a professional Group member Dong Naiyang, an ex-
volunteer team offering services in a va- serviceman, volunteered to buy and
riety of fields, including health care and transport medical supplies despite work-
psychological help. ing at the railway station on weekends and
At least 80 percent of Party officials are holidays.
required to take part in community volun- Jing’an-based social group Elite Union
teer work. Residents are also encouraged has organized white-collar workers in the
to lend a helping hand in their neighbor- district to translate epidemic-prevention
hoods. The plan will be successful if 13 information for foreigners returning to An Elite Union volunteer donates blood to
of every 100 residents become volunteers, work. It utilizes translators proficient in help those infected with COVID-19.
authorities said. English, French, German, Italian, Spanish,
In addition, Jing’an officials said the dis- Japanese and Korean.
trict will further explore systems that allow It took 23 white-collar volunteers, includ-
public feedback. As tailor-made services are ing a teacher, designer and engineer, about
introduced locally, residents will be given a week to complete such a handbook in
channels to comment on those services. eight languages.
“We hope to develop a ‘Jing’an solution’ to “Jing’an is host to many foreign compa-
JING’AN
promote grassroots volunteerism,” said Ma nies and workers, and we want them to live
Jiabing, director of the Jing’an Civilization and work in safety,” said Shi Yichan, head
Office and Jing’an Volunteer Association. of Elite Union.
“We will clarify what kind of volunteer On another front, Linfen Road Subdis-
services can be undertaken and a system trict has been promoting the use of serving
that puts people only a 15-minute walk at utensils since March.
most from volunteer services,” he said. The Chinese tradition of people sitting
He added, “Everyone’s engagement really around a table and using one set of chop-
matters. We need to encourage people to do sticks to serve themselves from communal A volunteer from Shanghai Jinggong Group
their bit in the community and feel that vol- dishes increases the risk of spreading novel provides a Shanghai Railway Station arrival
unteer work is part of their daily lives.” coronavirus infection. To reduce that risk, with information on health checkpoints.
Rules will be enacted to guide volunteer Shanghai has been promoting the use of
work and protect the legal rights of those separate chopsticks and spoons for serv-
workers. ing food.
Yan Hong, founder of Jing’an-based To date, the subdistrict has sent serv-
Shanghai Sonic Youth Volunteer Service ing utensils to more than 120 restaurants
Center, said it’s important for volunteers and 38 residential complexes. Yu Yingchun,
to feel a sense of worth. manager of restaurant Xinwang Meishilin,
“When we train our volunteers, we try has established a way of rewarding diners
to make them aware that self-satisfaction for trying the new system.
Scan on WeChat to have rises the more they do for others,” he said. “To encourage diners to use serving uten-
real-time update of what’s “It’s not about monetary rewards. Rather, sils, we will send them complimentary food
or drinks,” he said. “Also, I will tell diners
happening in the district. they learn that their efforts are recognized
(Chinese only) and respected by others.” to use serving utensils when they step into
He added, “Only in this way can the vol- our restaurant.”
unteer spirit be passed from individuals The subdistrict’s civil affairs office is
to families, communities and the whole sending about 5,000 serving utensils with
society.” special designs to restaurants and families A local restaurant offers separate sets of
The novel coronavirus pandemic has that have adopted the new guidelines. chopsticks and spoons for serving food.