 To support the Sichuan quake relief work, a campaign was started on Monday to recruit volunteers who can contribute at least 500 hours, or 20 days to the volunteering work in the quake-hit regions. On Monday alone, over 600 Beijing residents have already registered. Today's Media Spin, we will look at the public responses for this long term volunteer project.
A commentary in The Beijing News says that being a volunteer is part of our social responsibility as a citizen of the country. Doing volunteering work not only requires passion and love, but also professionalism. Experienced professionals are now in need for quake relief. Led by Beijing Volunteers Association, organized and systematic voluntary work is believed to have greater power and effectiveness. At present, it is confirmed that the Beijing volunteers will be assigned to Shifang and Longnan County.
In response to a local official in the quake-hit area who requested that volunteers come at another time, a commentary in Changjiang Daily points out that the government tends to emphasize the reconstruction and social stability in the worst-hit areas. On the other hand, non-governmental organizations can help areas that have been less affected but still too weak to recover just by themselves. Therefore, volunteer work and governmental relief work can actually complement each other.
Beijing Youth Daily reports that the quake-affected areas need long term, professional, and project-based volunteerism. Thus, volunteers should be mentally preparated and make necessary arrangement. The writer believes that the volunteers will face lots of unexpected challenges and learn from the experiences. From doing rescue works to reconstruction, the quake relief effort is indeed a national relay. From time to time, more and more people will join the team to take on the responsibility together.
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