Volunteers from Shenzhen University pose for a group photo at the Shenzhen Metro • King Cup International Badminton Open 2024 last month. Courtesy of the event organizer
At 3 a.m., under the glow of streetlights, over 500 Shenzhen University (SZU) volunteers gathered at the school gate, ready to support the Shenzhen Marathon on Dec. 1, 2024.
Thanks to these students, Shenzhen proudly reinforced its reputation as the "City of Volunteers" during this major sporting event. As activities marking the International Volunteer Day on Dec. 5 drew to a close, SZU, which is set to contribute the largest number of volunteers from Shenzhen to the 15th National Games this year, was once again in the limelight for its significant contribution.
"Schools in Shenzhen ask children to do volunteer work from a young age, but my initial interest emerged when I first joined the volunteers during the 2011 FISU World University Games," recalled Fan Linlin, a student who graduated from SZU 12 years ago.
During her four years at the university, Fan accumulated nearly 700 hours of volunteer work.
After graduation, she continued to volunteer, teaching in remote rural areas and contributing to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
Thanks to the connections she built and the experience she gained, she landed a job at Shenzhen Media Group after graduation. "I guess I've turned my passion into a profession," she said as her eyes sparkled with pride.
Hu Jiayi, a board member of the Shenzhen University Volunteer Association, highlighted how volunteerism is central to student life, saying, "At Shenzhen University, for every three students, two are volunteers. Almost every month, there's a new volunteer event ready and waiting for students to dive into."
What keeps students engaged in volunteering, beyond occasional stipends, is the positive feedback from those they help and the invaluable experiences they gain. For example, Hu has received heartfelt letters from the rural children she taught.
"Children's gratitude was the most powerful encouragement I could imagine. Even though I am still a student, this experience has already had a huge impact on my future as a teacher," she said with a deep sense of fulfillment.
Shenzhen University students' volunteerism has earned widespread recognition. Fang Yu, a staff member at China Resources, a Fortune Global 500 company, praised their contributions, saying, "When it comes to both work attitude and experience, the volunteers from Shenzhen University are always our first choice in recruitment."
Shenzhen University is currently abuzz with preparations to recruit volunteers for this year's National Games. Over 6,000 students have already signed up, eager to channel their energy into bolstering the city's reputation as the "City of Volunteers."
"We hope our students not only discover their sense of purpose through volunteer work but also embody a deep sense of collective responsibility," said Mr. Zhang, the teacher overseeing volunteer efforts at the School League Committee.
(Cover image: Shenzhen University Volunteer Federation)
