British, Chinese volunteers exchange communities

Chinese volunteers in London

Wang Xinghua, a teacher of painting at Tsinghua University, considers himself lucky. He was among the 15 people chosen from thousands of applicants to join the Chinese-British volunteer exchange program to London. He was assigned to Newham, Simon Brown’s East London community, to teach painting to local teenagers.

Wang said his British partner, Martyr Matthow, made his brief stay in the UK capital unforgettable. Matthow, who was born in France and moved to Britain for college in 2003, has been teaching British children painting in his attic studio since graduation.

“You know some of them suffer from depression, some have criminal records and some are homeless,” Wang said of the children. “But he believes that through his efforts, these children can become more optimistic and happy. He asked me to call him ‘Artist Martyr.’ What a lovely man,” Wang said wistfully.

Chen Kui, the exchange program’s director, said Chinese volunteers’ collaboration with British counterparts helps them see the weaknesses and roadblocks to the development of volunteerism in China. In Western countries such as Britain, he said community service already has a tested structure, organizations and their employees offer volunteers necessary training and guidance supported by empirical data.

“But our biggest weakness is the public’s lack of spontaneity and sustainability,” Chen said. “In cities, government does all the policy making, guidance and implementation. Volunteer groups are organized by government offices only for specific events and not for a long-term project.

“What China’s community service sector needs to develop is office workers partnering with volunteers,” he said, echoing Hu Jian’s suggestion.

Meanwhile, Wang still cannot forget the work of some of his British students: flying men, a strong hand aiming an arrow at the sky, a bright sun in a colorful garden.

“During the trip I understood more clearly what community service meant,” Wang said. “And I’m sure I learned more from the children than they ever learned from me.