Volunteer professionalism needed

Those untrained but well-intentioned volunteers certainly do not mean to be a hindrance in rescue and relief work. They only need more organization and pre-rescue training. They should not shoulder all the blame, although they could have done a much better job if they were better prepared.

Volunteerism is a new thing in China. Many people living in the faraway corners of the country may have not even heard the word. Unlike in some countries, experiences in doing volunteering work are not something that is highly recognized and helps you in your school life or career. And there are not many non-governmental organizations that conduct relevant information sharing and professional training.

The government should play a role in organizing volunteer work. It can devise policies to encourage non-government organizations to provide training. It can also directly cooperate with social organizations to train volunteers so that during disasters, they can be more organized and skillful.

After disaster hits, meanwhile, relevant government agencies and organizations must lose no time in establishing a functioning mechanism to properly organize volunteers. It will make them a truly helpful team in disaster rescue work and when releasing information as to how many volunteers the stricken areas need.