A volunteer passes out free tea and snacks at the 5th Yiwu Volunteer Expo. [Photo/Tide News]
The 5th Yiwu Volunteer Expo commenced in Yiwu county-level city in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, on March 1, and over 50 Yiwu social organizations and volunteer service teams came to the two-day event.
Attending were more than 50 public welfare projects across various domains like youth socialization, mental health, and rights protection, which used innovative methods such as digital exhibitions and immersive experiences.
Facilitated by the expo, 17 public welfare projects forged partnerships with relevant departments and organizations on the first day, securing over 1.5 million yuan ($206,106.84) in social funding for their initiatives.
At the "Belt and Road" International Volunteer Service Station booth, a volunteer from Nepal introduced his team where volunteers from over 30 countries provide services like policy consultation and trade matchmaking for foreign merchants in Yiwu.
The "Confucius Institute Near Home" project, focusing on language, culture, and public welfare, has nurtured 12 foreign volunteer teams, serving over 120,000 individuals and successfully mediating more than 230 foreign-related disputes.
Additionally, a calligraphy class at the youth night school organized by the Yiwu Youth Comprehensive Service Center was especially popular. The night school offers 76 courses such as guitar and e-commerce, serving a total of 11,000 individuals.
Over the past five years, the expo has helped match over 100 public welfare projects with social resources, involving more than 12 million yuan and engaging thousands of citizens in volunteering.
