The government of Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei Province, in 1995 built dozens of residences for low- and medium-wage earners in the city's Jiang'an District. The community was called Baibuting.

Wang Bo, a college teacher at that time, resigned her job and joined the management committee of Baibuting. Wang is director of the community management committee. 

Some people thought Wang had made a bad choice, but Wang believed she would have better opportunities in community work. 

Due to lack of staff, the committee decided to involve residents in community management, and the committee established several unit-based Party groups in each building.

Wang visited the Party members in Baibuting, one by one, and persuaded them to participate in the management of community affairs.

After the Party groups were set up, the members elected the groups' leaders and key unit members responsible for sanitation, security, property management and cultural and sports activities. The members were required to solve at least one problem for residents every week. 

There are 5,000 key unit members in Baibuting, and each is ready to help residents at any time. Those members make up the backbone of the community. 

When new residents move in, the Party members visit them to collect their basic information and register them as residents. During festivals, the leaders visit and greet the elderly residents. They also encourage residents to get along with their neighbors. 

Wang says Party groups in Baibuting have succeeded in leading Party members and residents in solving problems in their everyday lives.

For many residents, Wang is not only a community leader, but also a "daughter" of the elderly residents, a "sister" of single mothers and a willing helper for poverty-stricken families. 

"I thought about giving up my treatment … when I was seriously ill. I could say that Wang, and other community workers, saved my life," says Hu Zhongqin, 67, a resident of Baibuting.

 In 2012, Hu's husband was diagnosed with emphysema, and he was admitted to hospital for three months. Soon after, Hu was diagnosed with lymph cancer, and she underwent three surgeries. The family fell into poverty after paying the couple's medical expenses. 

Wang learned about Hu's situation, and she visited Hu. She encouraged Hu to be strong. She and other volunteers cooked nutritious soup for her every day. 

After her condition improved, Hu joined Baibuting's team of volunteers, and she often helped take care of elderly people who lived alone.

"If residents are willing to be volunteers, and to ask volunteers for help, a community will become a big, warm family," Wang says.

Of the 180,000 residents of Baibuting, 40,000 are registered volunteers. 

Baibuting in 2002 won the first China Award for Good Practice to Improve the Living Environment. Many of the residents believe living in Baibuting guarantees them a happy life.

"Becoming a community manager, and a close friend of residents, is a great honor for me in my life," Wang says.

(Women of China)