By the end of 1993, more than 20,000 young Chinese people were youth volunteers, indicating the formal establishment of the China Youth Volunteers Project. Even though much work has been done since then, much still remains to be done.

During the First Session of the 10th National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference which was held on March 3-14, Zhao Gongmin, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, talked to China.org.cn on the subject. He has involved himself in the research of the needs of society and has called for the support of volunteer activities.

Talking about youth volunteer activities, Zhao is concerned and excited.

He gives many volunteer programs: programs of long-term service plans for one-to-one aid; programs for officials, doctors, scientists and college students going to the countryside to spread scientific and literacy knowledge, offering medical service for farmers; the Chinese youth volunteers green project aimed at protecting the Yellow River. Volunteers have served for the 4th World Women's Conference (Beijing), 3rd Far East & South Pacific Games for the Disabled (FESPIC Games Shanghai), the World Expo'99 in Kunming, Shanghai Fortune Forum, 21st Universiade-Beijing and many other international and domestic activities.

Zhao emphasizes a program of continuing poverty relief, encouraging youth to go to underdeveloped regions in the middle and west of China, in order to provide basic education and spread farming technology information and offer medical services. According to incomplete statistics, up to 250,000 young urban people have applied and a total of 13,538 have been selected to serve in 211 poverty counties, covering 12 provinces in the middle and western regions. At present, 3,523 volunteers are still providing services in impoverished western regions.

According to Zhao, more than 4.5 billion hours' voluntary services have been provided by over 100 million person-times in the whole country. Since the largest voluntary organization, Chinese Young Volunteers Association, was established in 1994, a network composed of 35 provincial branch associations and more than 24,000 community volunteer service stations have been formed; the members being of all ages.

Although more and more people engage in voluntary projects, the volunteer programs are still at a primary stage; problems existing not only in internal systems but also in the external environment.

"Fund shortage is the main problem," Zhao said.

Presently, the voluntary associations raise funds in three ways: from government; from enterprises; and donations from individuals. Because these three ways are uncertain and not regular, the voluntary sector faces fund shortages and it is difficult to hold out and carry on more programs.

Zhao has made some suggestions. First, the government should set up local regulations to support and promote the development of voluntary projects by providing tax shelters for voluntary investment, which can stimulate enterprises and individuals to donate to charitable activity; permit voluntary organizations to go into business to raise money, to be supervised and managed by the relevant authorities; establish local regulations to claim a percentage donation from enterprise profit.

Zhao said that voluntary projects are a lofty undertaking but meet the need of social development and need positive support and aid from various fields. "I will strive to call for the support of the development of all voluntary projects," he said.

(China.org.cn by Staff Reporter Dai Fan, translated by Wang Zhiyong, March 19, 2002)