Volunteer Group Helps People Solve Their Problems “兰花芬芳”志愿服务暖人心

赵伊梦 胡冬梅 译/崔佳艳 审订/任东升

The Wang Lanhua Volunteer Group in Wuzhong， Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region， has helped thousands of people in the city.

This community service team assists residents in resolving problems， mediates disputes， and promotes policies for people of all ethnic groups. Volunteers strive to create a comfortable environment for people from Han and Hui ethnic groups living and working together in the community.

The group， with nearly 500 registered volunteers， was founded in 2005 by Wang Lanhua， who is now 71 years old， and is named after her.

Before retiring as director of a community in Litong District in 2004， Wang was well-known for her concern for residents in the neighborhood. She wasn’t able to get used to retirement， so she founded the volunteer group to keep serving.

Though the 3，000 households in the community were not closely connected to her， she said she “still cared about their unsolved problems”.

In the first years after retirement， Wang’s only income was a meager insurance fund. She set up an office in her 70-square-meter house. “So many people came to ask for help， and sometimes they couldn’t all squeeze inside，” she said.

Wang and her team often helped vulnerable people with difficulties. She went to the homes of lonely seniors to help them shower， cut their nails and wash windows， and she bought food and medicine for the elderly.

Wang has known 91-year-old He Xiuying for 30 years. “It was not easy for her as a widow to raise her oldest son， who suffered from polio. It was sad when he died， and she was too ill to leave the house，” Wang said， talking about the resident she often cares for.

“Whether trivial or major， ignoring a problem or failing to resolve it means different things. I should not break their trust，” she said， adding that sometimes residents weren’t able to reach a consensus despite mediation.

Now， the community organizes activities throughout the week， such as a flag-raising ceremony every Monday to enhance patriotic awareness， and a concert with various ethnic groups every Tuesday.

“Ningxia is our lovely home， it is united and socially stable，” Wang said. “Here， the Hui and the Han cannot live without each other. As President Xi Jinping said， people of all ethnic groups are tightly bound together like pomegranate seeds. Everyone respects each other， understands each other and cares for each other.”

Shu Hongyong and his younger brother， both Han， had a difficult life due to family changes.

After Wang learned about their situation， she insisted on taking care of them， frequently bringing them food， washing their clothes， and contacting the school to reduce their tuition fees.

Now Shu has opened a plumbing repair shop and is also an important member of the volunteer group.

Named as a National Moral Model， Wang has inspired many people with her selfless deeds. So far， Litong district has 60，000 registered volunteers， nearly 90 percent of them women.

Wang has moved her office from her house to a 1，400-square-meter volunteer service center.

“The more volunteers there are， the fewer difficulties residents will face. I will keep enriching volunteer activities，” Wang said.

（from China Daily， Global Edition， June 15， 2021）

在寧夏回族自治区吴忠市，“王兰花热心小组”志愿帮扶了数以千计的人。

这支社区志愿服务队帮居民解决难事，调解纠纷，而且为各民族群众宣讲政策，营造汉回两族人民共同生活和工作的和谐环境。

志愿服务小组成立于2005年，注册志愿者近500人，由现年71岁的王兰花发起并冠名。

王兰花2004年从利通区某社区居委会主任的岗位上退休以前，就因心里装着街坊四邻有口皆碑。她不满足空闲的退休生活，于是成立了志愿服务小组，继续为邻里服务。

尽管社区3000户居民跟她不沾亲也不带故，可她说自己“依然惦记着他们还没解决的问题”。

王兰花刚退休那几年，收入只有微薄的养老金。她在自己面积70平米的家设了办公室。“前来寻求帮助的人真多，有时屋里都挤不下。”她说。

王兰花和她的“热心小组”经常帮弱扶困，到孤寡老人家给他们洗澡、剪指甲、擦窗户，还为上岁数的老人买菜买药。

王兰花与91岁高龄的何秀英相识30年了。“她一个寡妇拉扯患小儿麻痹症的大儿子不容易。可怜的是大儿子没了，自己也病得厉害，出不了门。”王兰花说着这位她时常照顾的老人。

“不论大事小事，帮成帮不成是一回事，帮不帮又是另外一回事。不能辜负大家的信任。”她还说，有些时候即便调解，双方意见也达不成一致。

现在，该社区一周里都组织活动。例如，每周一的升国旗仪式，增强居民爱国意识;每周二的歌咏会，各族居民积极参与。

“宁夏是我们可爱的家乡，民族团结，社会稳定。”她说，“在宁夏，汉族与回族是你离不开我，我也离不开你。就像总书记说的，各民族像石榴籽一样紧紧抱在一起。大家互相尊重，互相体谅，相互关心。”

汉族小伙舒宏勇和他的弟弟因家庭变故，生活十分困难。

王兰花了解到相关情况后，坚持照顾兄弟俩，隔三差五给他们送吃的、洗衣服，还联系学校为他们减免学费。

如今，舒宏勇不但开了家水暖维修店，还成了志愿服务队的骨干。

王兰花被授予“全国道德模范”荣誉称号，她的无私奉献激励了许多人。目前，利通区注册志愿者达6万人，近9成是女性。

王兰花的办公室也从家搬到了1400平方米的志愿服务中心。

“身边的志愿者越来越多，群众的困难就会越来越少。我会把志愿活动做大做强。”王兰花说。

（译者单位：中国海洋大学）