国内英语资讯:China Focus: After the quake: 10 years on volunteerism thrives_时事

国内英语资讯:China Focus: After the quake: 10 years on volunteerism thrives

"I still remember the first letter he [Xiao Wei] wrote to me. I read loneliness of a boy raised by his grandfather and lacking care from his parents," Chen said.

Encouraging Xiao Wei to work harder at school, Chen also reflects on herself: "I often tell myself to be more proactive and positive. So I would say he and I are growing up together."

The campaign epitomizes the bourgeoning volunteerism following the catastrophe. Official data showed that more than 1.18 million people applied to help with quake relief. The volunteers trooped into quake-hit areas on foot, bicycle and in their cars, giving anything they could toward those left homeless and grieving by the earthquake.

"The disaster prompted Chinese to unleash great power in volunteerism," said Wang Zhihao, an official with the Sichuan Committee of the Communist Youth League of China. "Thereafter, China had a new type of volunteers called emergency volunteers."

Right after the quake, Sichuan set up a team of certificated volunteers to respond to natural disasters. Now, the team has more than 5,000 members and consists of 10 contingents dedicated to respective fields, such as rescue, healthcare and psychological support.

"Over the past decade, volunteers and social organizations have thrived in Sichuan and become more professional facing disasters," Wang said.

Had not been a volunteer in Dujiangyan, one of the worst-hit areas, Li Jiahui, a graduate of civic engineering from Southwest Jiaotong University, would have been a building designer.