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Foreigners volunteer in Wuxi

(chinadaily.com.cn)

Foreigners volunteer in Wuxi

Foreign Wuxi resident, Don, handed out traditional Chinese hongbao, cash-filled red envelopes, and extended New Year greetings to sanitation workers while out running recently.

Nowadays, more and more foreigners live and work in Wuxi, a city dubbed as China's "town of fish and rice", and many are donating their time and efforts for charitable causes throughout the city.

Tang Lei, (originally called Peter), a 70-year old Canadian, was the first registered foreign volunteer in Wuxi.

Foreigners volunteer in Wuxi

Since 2001 he has taught English for free by setting up English corners in parks and libraries. Besides this, he visits children in local welfare houses and celebrates festivals with them.

Several foreigners in Wuxi have launched a volunteer association under Tang's influence. They usually organize environment-protecting activities in stations and scenic spots and get involved in publicity campaigns for traffic safety, working with traffic police at intersections and promoting the traffic etiquette.

Foreigners volunteer in Wuxi

Volunteers from overseas can be found all over the country. They are becoming vital cross-cultural links between China and other countries and international organizations, as they lend their expertise in such fields as farming, forestry, culture, education, health care and sports.