Some 39 volunteer groups from 12 cities come together on Dec 5 for the 2010 Volunteering Expo in Beijing.

The different groups included an organization aimed at enhancing the public awareness of HIV/AIDS, an Internet forum serving China’s Muslims to deal with issues like domestic violence, a social enterprise dedicated to empowering the migrant and rural population through arts-based projects.

The Expo, which also marks the 10th anniversary of the United Nations International Year of Volunteers, offered a broad range of services from environmental protection, low-carbon lifestyles to women empowerment.

The event was organized by both international and Chinese charitable organizations, including the UK-based Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), and supported by United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The homeaids.org, based in Kunming, Southwest China’s Yunnan province, was established in 2002 with the funding of local Red Cross Society and international donors. It aggressively seeks to collaborate with universities, enterprises and community residents to build a network of people involved in the care and support of disadvantaged groups.

In 2010, the organization provided direct assistance to 400 HIV carriers and AIDS patients although it faces difficulties in fundraising, said Li Jin, a project officer from the organization.

The Beijing Huitianyu Information Consultation Center is not only concerned with funding, but also its legal status. It registered as an enterprise in 2003 but its main activities are to empower disabled people and protect their rights. Runling Wu, director of the center, spoke about the achievements they made, such as the team of soft strength ball and charity bazaar of artwork by the disabled.

Su Yuling, a long time member of the center, drew pictures at the expo to demonstrate how she benefited from the training program. “People are like brothers and sisters in the center. They are very practical, help to reduce poverty and enable the disabled people to make a living,” said Su.

However, Wu still worried about the prospect of registering its enterprises as an NGO despite the governmental Disabled Persons’ Federation already agreeing to help. “Many organizations worry if they can maintain the independence when affiliated with the relevant government departments.”

A man who preferred to be called Xiao Shuai worked as an editor of www.2muslim.com, which claims to the largest Internet forum among Muslim in China. The website established in October 2003 now has 76,600 registered members and includes 37 city-based communities, such as in Guangzhou, Xi’an and other economically well-developed regions that attract large number of Muslims.

It also organized volunteers to provide support for poverty-stricken families or other charitable activities in accordance with specific conditions. The Guangzhou Community website is famous for helping young Muslims to get married, the Lanzhou Community builds its reputation for fighting against domestic violence, and the Xining Community collects used books from the city and then donates them to children in rural areas.

But one of the major concerns for registered members is some Muslim restaurants don’t meet the correct standard or respect religious customs, said Xiao Shuai. He also said the website aims to counterattack “negative Western reports of Muslims after the Sept 11 attacks.”

The number of NGOs is booming, but not all charitable projects work well, according to Guo Yanming, project officer of Badi Foundation, which sponsor projects from capacity-building of rural woman to community-based organizations.

"We had to stop a project in Shanxi province because the founder saw no future in the local environment. " said Guo. She added that the foundation emphasized on helping women and children to discover their self-awareness and embrace new ideas.

Despite various challenges, Gillian Dale, a volunteer of VSO and also an expert to the UNV, still sees hope for volunteering in China.

The earthquake disasters and Beijing Olympics drove the development of volunteering in China, and now it’s the time to turn that passion into specific programs that help realize the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals), said Gillian.

"China is changing rapidly. If everyone helps make a little change, it will flourish. " said Gillian, who came to China in Feb 2010 and tried to share her skills with Chinese volunteers.

(chinadaily.com.cn December 6, 2010)