VOA标准英语2013--Chinese Pursue Volunteer Opportunities in Africa

 

Chinese Pursue Volunteer Opportunities in Africa

At a recent training session in Beijing, doctors, information technology specialists, business professionals and others prepare for a one- to two-year stint¹ in Africa with international development charity VSO, Voluntary Services Overseas.

Zhang Liang, a doctor from China’s northeastern province of Liaoning, said, “A friend of mine has a clinic in Africa which was doing really well. When he returned to China and we got to know each other, he told me about his experiences there and I was very interested. I thought that if I had a chance I would least go once. It would be a privilege to try and contribute somehow."

When professionals in China volunteer, many do not know if they will get their old jobs back when they return.

But they say the opportunities abroad make it worth the risk.

Stephanie Wong, a city planner, recently returned from Zambia with VSO. She said, "I am personally very interested in working for [the] general public. Because planning is very much related to social issues, and I want to experience myself what I can do for the general public as a planner."

While China may be the world’s second largest economy, it still has more than 200 million people living off of less than a dollar and 25 cents a day.

VSO country director Fanny Chan said that gives Chinese volunteers a unique perspective.

"When we talk to the volunteers from China most of them, either through their families or even themselves, have witnessed poverty," said Chan. "And they also know that if people have better access to basic services, to education, can find a way to make a living that can lift people out of poverty. They know that is possible."

China has been sending medical volunteers to Africa for decades. They are now in 45 countries on the continent. China’s youth volunteers corps², an effort similar to the United States’ Peace Corps, is a path that some choose. 

But, said Liu Haifang, deputy³ director of Peking University’s Africa Research Center, students are increasingly turning to other organizations for overseas volunteer work.

"My impression is that young volunteers are finding their own ways to go abroad. They are not inclined⁴ to say that they represent China," Liu said. "They are not interested in saying who they represent. They represent themselves. They have ambitions and dreams that they want to realize."

Liu said the trend highlights the changes in how China and its citizens are reaching out to the rest of the world.

1 stint   

v.节省，限制，停止；n.舍不得化，节约，限制；连续不断的一段时间从事某件事

参考例句：

• He lavished money on his children without stint.他在孩子们身上花钱毫不吝惜。
• We hope that you will not stint your criticism.我们希望您不吝指教。

2 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

3 deputy   

n.代理人，代表，副职；adj.代理的，副的

参考例句：

• John will act as a deputy for me during my absence.我离开期间，约翰将代理我的职务。
• She is the deputy headmistress of the school.她是那所学校的代理校长。

4 inclined   

a.有…倾向的

参考例句：

• She was inclined to trust him. 她愿意相信他。
• He inclined towards the speaker to hear more clearly. 他把身体倾向发言人，以便听得更清楚些。