Members of the "little leaves" volunteer team are ready to provide services for visitors at the third China International Import Expo (CIIE) in East China's Shanghai Municipality, on November 4. [China Women's News/Yang Rui]

"Little leaves" is the nickname given to volunteers at the China International Import Expo (CIIE). The name was created by the volunteers themselves, inspired by the shape of the CIIE venue, which is like a huge four-leaf clover.

Xia Jing, a junior student majoring in Chinese Language International Education in Sanda University, experienced the spectacle of the 2nd CIIE as a visitor in 2019 and it was her first time to be a volunteer for the CIIE.   

Talking about her feeling of providing services as a volunteer, Xia believed that it has broadened her horizons to an international level.

One thing she was impressed by was that when she attended the training on the first day, the staff pretended to be dining guests and asked her questions, like which bus to take to the People's Square? And what's the bus timetable? Xia had no idea. Xia realized that volunteers must keep lots of things in mind and be well-prepared, so as to provide better services for guests in need.

As a local youth in Shanghai, Xu Yang, Xia's peer who is majoring in Product Design, always wanted to make a contribution to the big event.

During the recruitment of volunteers, she immediately signed up and successfully passed the written examination and interview. Her family supported her and had no worries about her since the epidemic situation in Shanghai is well under control.

Volunteers of the third China International Import Expo (CIIE) attend an oath-taking ceremony at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, Oct 18, 2020. [Xinhua]

To ensure volunteers' safety during the CIIE, under the guidance of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, the Shanghai Committee of the China Communist Youth League formulated a detailed plan for epidemic prevention and control, taking multiple measures to ensure that every volunteer is safe and feels supported.

According to the CIIE, a total of 4,844 volunteers have been recruited, including some 670 sophomore and junior students who have offered voluntary services at the CIIE two or three times. Accounting for 18 percent of the total, 871 volunteers have experience in epidemic prevention and control. The number of "post-00s" volunteers is more than 2,600, accounting for 54 percent of the total.

The "little leaves" provide on-site guidance and consultation, guest liaison and reception, news promotion assistance, exhibition registration management, welcome and delivery assistance, transaction data statistics, administrative assistance, medical emergency rescue, and epidemic prevention and health awareness promotion.

"Participating in voluntary activities has taught me a lot and improved my communication and organizational skills," said Zhu Yichun, a junior student and deputy director of the Youth Volunteer Guidance Center of Sanda University who has rendered more than 600 hours of voluntary services.

(Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China)