Beijing: Volunteers in Action 21 July 2008
With little more than two weeks to the grand opening day of the Olympics 2008 scheduled to take place on Friday 8pm, 8th August, the host city Beijing has already been transformed into a giant botanic garden with volunteers all over providing help with street directions and other assistance. The majority full time volunteers are elderly individuals. It is a tradition in China for retired grannies to contribute their time to serve the community for free, such as to guide pedestrians, mind children or deliver newspapers, but it is unprecedented that they have been organised into a major volunteer force and running volunteer posts everywhere in the capital.
But retired grannies are not the only volunteers active in the city at the moment. They are joined by people from all walks of life, as observed by Chinese Netizen Enduring Words 恒言. Enduring Words has a neighbour originally from Henan who makes a living by collecting recycling items. Normally he would forever wear a dirty uniform, and when he was not at work, he would just lie on his cart snoozing. But lately, his enduring filthy uniform was replaced by clean and well-presented clothes, and when he is not at work, he smiles to everyone who passes him and offers some kind words if needed, because he is now a honoured volunteer for Olympics. That is how Olympic spirits changes people. (Source of info and original photos: 恒言, xinhuanet.com) Pre: Olympic Families
in Beijing Hutongs
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