Really excited volunteers rehearse for joyful holiday
- Source: Global Times
- [23:48 September 10 2009]
- Comments
Originally launched for the 2008 Olympics, 227 "blue cube" volunteer stalls have returned to Beijing since September 7.
Different from his fellow volunteers in blue, Ren Lei, a native Beijinger, wore a red tracksuit, as he is now a veteran volunteer.
"I even volunteered for the Universiade 2001 in Beijing when I was a university student," said Ren, 29, in charge of two of the 32 volunteer stalls in Xidashila'r Lu, near Tian'anmen Square, Beijing, "Much earlier than others."
He now works as a volunteer for National Day holiday.
The National Day celebrations on October 1 has sifted into the daily life of Chinese people like the Olympics, says Ren.
Ren was involved in the Olympics 2008 in Beijing as a city volunteer recruited by Xuanwu branch of the China Communist Youth League Beijing Committee, through the whole course of bidding for, preparing for and holding the Games.
And after the Olympics, Beijing decided to maintain some of the volunteer stalls in some areas like Qianmen and Olympic venues in Chaoyang District.
The two stalls Ren supervised have new slogans on the front of the volunteers' blue stall nicknamed a "blue cube" by pedestrians: "I progress with my country 1949- 2009", "Smiling Beijing", "Harmonious Pioneers" on September 7.
Ren was handed a new assignment for the 60th anniversary. After the Olympics, Ren's volunteer stalls still function as "Information Need", "Emergency Need" and "Translation Need".
Ren and his fellow city volunteers will also cooperate with the community police department in securing the safety of the area.
Every week, Ren has five volunteers from various units like hospitals and universities in the district communities in Xuanwu.
"Besides the original aid, we volunteer now in helping with street order. For example, we make sure no illegal ads appear in the streets, prevent drunks from causing trouble etc.," Ren said. They work 8 am-10 pm daily.
Volunteer stalls vary between areas. The Beijing Book Building in Xicheng District saw its blue cube re-open September 8.
Only three volunteers worked in the stall earlier than 8 am and ended before 2:30 pm, according to a nearby policeman who asked not to be named.
"There is a young volunteer, a middle-aged one and a senior volunteer in the stall. I saw them on my first shift today", he said. "They helped with traffic information and distributed patriotic promotion cards."
