A women volunteers' action targeting girls, left-behind women and senior women is launched by the All-China Women's Federation in North China's Tianjin Municipality on August 25. Wu Haiying (C), Vice-President and Member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, attended the launch event. [Tianjin Women's Federation]

A women volunteers' action was launched in a village's cultural center in North China's Tianjin Municipality on August 25. By setting up women volunteers' teams,  it aimed to offer diversified voluntary services on a regular basis to care for girls, left-behind women and elderly women. 

The action will establish 35 women volunteers' stations in poverty-stricken areas around the country based on cultural practice centers and women and children's homes, according to the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) and the Office of the Central Spiritual Civilization Development Steering Commission, the initiators of the action.

At the launch event, women volunteers in Tianjin and the provinces of Sichuan and Jiangxi shared their stories about fighting against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), preventing floods and caring for women and children.

Liu Xian, owner of a box-meal restaurant chain in Chengdu, capital city of Southwest China's Sichuan Province, shares her story of providing food for frontline medics in Central China's Wuhan City amid the COVID-19 outbreak at the event on August 25. [Tianjin Women's Federation]

Liu Xian, 24, owner of a box-meal restaurant chain in Chengdu, capital city of Southwest China's Sichuan Province, shared her story in Wuhan, capital city of Central China's Hubei Province, amid the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Liu and her team rushed to Wuhan, then hardest-hit place of China from 1,200 kilometers away and cooked 20,000 meals for frontline medical workers for free in over 40 days from early February to March.

Liu got the nickname "raincoat girl" among residents in Wuhan as she wore raincoat when cooking and delivering food because the protective suits were not enough at that time.

"At the beginning, I sent a notice to our work group, saying that there may be life-threatening risks. Many employees nevertheless took active parts in the aid, which encouraged me a lot," she said.

Liu would establish her own brand of voluntary service based on the needs of elderly people in urban and rural communities and left-behind girls in rural areas whose parents have migrated to cities for work. 

Yu Fengying, leader of a square dance team of a village in East China's Jiangxi Province, talks about her experiences of leading her team members to participate in the anti-flood battle at the event on August 25. [Tianjin Women's Federation]

"We can not only dance, but also fight against floods on the front line," said Yu Fengying, leader of a square dance team of a village in East China's Jiangxi Province. 

The team members, with an average age of over 50, became a strong anti-flood force at critical moments. They helped fill and move sand bags, transferred people affected by floods, and provided food and drinks to the frontline rescuers. 

Yu said that she will continue to work as a volunteer to help build more beautiful hometown and create a well-off life together with people all over the country.

Yu Xueyan, president of a volunteer association in Tianjin's Jizhou District, shares her story of leading women volunteers to care for children in summer vacation during the event on August 25. [Tianjin Women's Federation]

Yu Xueyan, president of a volunteer association in Tianjin's Jizhou District, shared her story about offering childcare services in summer vacation. She led 104 women volunteers to send condolences and school supplies to orphans and left-behind children as well as children in need. Meanwhile, she provided psychological counseling to children who had suffered from psychic trauma in 15 towns and townships. 

Diversified activities are expected to be held to care for children, especially girls, including giving safety education, publicizing legal knowledge, spending time with them and providing health service. Volunteers will also monitor the elderly people's physical conditions, teach them how to shop online and use electrical appliances, listen to their stories and expectations, and help them enjoy peaceful and happy lives.

(Women of China)