Charities are adopting ever more creative approaches to reaching those in need and to encouraging those who can donate.
On the third Saturday of every month, an event called "Public Welfare Paradise" is held at the Pudong Public Service Center and this charity auction/flea market is proving highly popular especially among white-collar workers.
"This is the first time that we have created a theme and added charity elements to the event," said Jiang Yifan, a staffer at the Pudong Social Workers Association. "In the past, it was called 'Pudong Philanthropy and Volunteers' Day,' and we only had traditional activities such as goods donation, flea markets, learning knitting from volunteers and bartering. But now it's getting more diversified."
The theme of this month's event is "Youth and Education." Several local charities, spontaneously formed by enthusiasts who love helping the young and the poor, are each offering an interesting experience for participants.
1Y1X stands for "yi yuan yi xin" in Chinese - "one yuan one heart." This charity community supports deprived high school students in Anhui Province and it celebrated its third anniversary in the form of a charity auction at the event.
"We collected more than 100 units from members of our online community two weeks ago and raised 11,185 yuan (US,480) at the auction," said Dabing, who is in charge of the charity. "Electronic products such as mobile phones and electronic dictionaries are the most popular, followed by items such as wine and Disney toys. There will be many small things at low prices at the flea market."
Most of the donors are white-collar workers from the business circles around Huaihai Road, Nanjing Road W. and Xujiahui, and they range from 25- to 35-years-old. With their stable and pleasant lives, they now feel a sense of social responsibility.
Dabing said the money they raised would go to support high school students in He Prefecture of Anhui Province.
"To the kids in these rural areas, knowledge is the most concrete thing that can change their lives. However, it's my understanding that what really changes the children's destiny is higher education," he said. "We have supported 14 students since December 2004, each gets a total of 3,500 yuan. Four will become university freshmen this year."
The charity's selection of students is serious and strict so that the funds are best utilized. Outstanding high school students from poor families are the primary target.
"In the past three years, the country has put a great deal of effort and funds into the universities and colleges, but with high schools there's a bit of a blind spot. The drop out rate of students in rural areas who are pursuing higher education is high and it's caused by poverty rather than ignorance," Dabing said.
"We would like to support high performing students who are held back by financial constraints."
The Smiling Library is another virtual charity platform that will be at the "Public Welfare Paradise." It has donated more than 40,000 books to 71 schools around the country since 2003.
Bai Jingjing is a sales girl who used to be a book donor but is now on the organization's staff. She said that the Smiling Library's aim is to make full use of old books and expand poor students' horizons.
"Writing compositions and class meetings are organized by the schools to raise the kids' interest in reading," she said. "Since we focus on elementary schools, most of our books are fairy tales. In addition to donations from local enterprises and social organizations, we also encourage pupils in local elementary schools to donate one book each for their contemporaries in these poor schools."
Although they have a different focus, both 1Y1X and the Smiling Library were started by outdoor sports and travel enthusiasts. Originally, they just wanted to help the poor kids and families they met first hand. Gradually the idea to form an online community to organize serious charity activities formed.
"It is rewarding. From the experience, we have learnt that we are serving not only those who receive the donations but the donors as well," Bai said. "We must respect their contributions and make efficient usage of the goods they donate."
Address: Pudong Public Service Center, 2 Hehuan Rd, Pudong
For more information: www.1y1x.com; www.smilinglibrary.org