Foreigners help peers navigate China

"When there is an opportunity for helping others, I will do it. Chinese people have been so nice to me. They have provided me with good conditions. They have a very nice attitude. Why not help them? It was a difficult time. Many Chinese staff worked overtime and very hard. If my help could relieve some of their difficulty I would help them."

Yuexiu district in central Guangzhou has a team of 49 foreign volunteers from countries including Mali, Germany, Britain, India and Yemen, said Cao Xin, an official with the district's migrant services bureau. In Dengfeng subdistrict, the largest subdistrict in Yuexiu, 28 foreign volunteers are in place.

They help promote knowledge of policies and regulations and guide foreigners in self-service and management, which helps enhance the service and management of foreigners, Cao said, adding that foreign volunteers have played an indispensable role during the pandemic.

Community service stations for foreigners have been established in all 18 subdistricts in Yuexiu, Cao said.

To help foreigners better integrate into the local community, the district government has been procuring services from social work organizations, such as classes in Chinese language and community integration.

Socializing platforms have been arranged, such as youth soccer teams and cultural and children events, with foreigners also invited to tours to local sites and events.

Chinese and foreign volunteers have been serving communities with significant foreign populations.