Social organizations are an important part of a country's governance system. China's Ministry of Civil Affairs recently told media, by the end of 2022, the country had more than 1.75 million community-based social organizations. 

In addition to offering various convenient services to residents, many social organizations (in various regions of the country) have organized various activities, including public-welfare activities and recreational activities, and the activities have been aimed at helping residents either improve their relations or improve their production skills. That, in turn, has promoted social harmony and stability throughout China. 

The ministry noted, guided by civil affairs departments in various regions of the country, community-based social organizations in recent years have played important roles in providing various services to residents. For example, more than 90,000 social organizations (across the country), including many community-based social organizations, during the past two years have conducted a combined 263,000 activities, to offer convenient services to more than 93.36 million residents (in various communities across the country). 

The ministry said many social organizations have organized their members and volunteers to help and care for disadvantaged residents (including disabled residents, elderly residents who live alone, women who have lost their only child to death, and children, whose parents have left home to work elsewhere). The organizations have also provided legal aid and psychological counseling to residents. 

The ministry also noted, in addition to organizing various recreational activities to enrich residents' lives, many community-based social organizations have worked with other organizations to strengthen the communities' social security, and to improve the communities' environment and property-management services. The organizations have also been committed to helping residents resolve various problems in their lives, including providing elder-care and/or childcare services.

(Women of China English Monthly September 2023 issue)