U.N. coordinators in Serbia pose for a photo with Deng Chunli (C) before her return to China in March 2022. Courtesy of Deng Chunli
Deng Chunli, a postgraduate student at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), said that she hoped to inspire more young people in Shenzhen to engage in volunteer work by sharing her experience in Serbia.
Deng was one of the six invited volunteers to share their stories during the celebration of World International Volunteer Day at Shenzhen Auditorium in Futian District yesterday.
In 2021, following a rigorous selection process, Deng successfully participated in the United Nations Volunteers Program, commencing her volunteering journey in Serbia. Leveraging her expertise in data analysis and economics, Deng played a pivotal role in advancing over 100 sustainable development projects in Serbia.
In one project, Deng successfully helped local farmers transport fresh mushrooms to be sold in urban areas. "We faced many challenges and the project was on the edge of cancellation. I worked overnight to figure out solutions to the transport problem," Deng said.
Deng's passion for volunteering began in 2014, inspired by a volunteer teacher back in her hometown.
In Serbia, she not only contributed to local sustainable development projects, but also shared Chinese culture with the international community. After she returned to Shenzhen, Deng continues her volunteer work on campus and throughout the city, aiming to mobilize more people to join her group, drawing from her rich experiences, especially in Serbia.
"Shenzhen has a robust volunteering environment. My school provides training programs for volunteers. The city also launched a gift program to reward registered volunteers, which I really appreciate," Deng said in an interview yesterday.
Deng won the title of "Excellent Individual" in the selection of Chinese Youth Volunteers this year and earned a place among Shenzhen's top 10 volunteers last year.
During the World International Volunteer Day celebration yesterday, the city's most outstanding volunteers of the year and top 10 volunteer organizations were recognized for their significant contributions to the city.
At present, the number of registered volunteers in Shenzhen has exceeded 3.81 million, including over 4,300 foreign volunteers, according to data released by the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the Communist Youth League of China.