There are now many volunteers interested in collecting "Expo badges" in recognition of their hard work. What is your opinion of this phenomenon?
The Expo badges were originally used to encourage volunteers to work hard. The badge is intended to be symbolic of volunteer culture. Today, more and more volunteers are looking for Expo badges. This shows their recognition of the hard work and dedication represented by the badges. The growth of a "volunteer culture" is a great legacy that the Shanghai World Expo will leave to this city.
The Expo has created an opportunity for a volunteer culture to grow and develop in Shanghai and China. Until the end of the Expo, we will continually develop this culture of volunteerism in order to better understand the relationship between the growth of volunteerism and the creation of a civilized society.
The Expo badge phenomenon reflects the growing popularity of volunteer culture in our society. It can be inferred from this trend that volunteerism will play a growing role in our quest to create a civilized society. We hope that volunteering will become more fashionable, especially among our youngest citizens.
Some scholars say that the Shanghai World Expo is an opportunity for Chinese youth to grow and mature, much like the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. What do you think of this?
In our time, people are paying more attention to the physical and material growth of a city or country. However, it is possible that not enough attention has been paid to the spiritual growth of the younger generation. Some see young people as spoiled, selfish and irresponsible.
But one of our volunteers wrote in her diary that she tried hard to memorize all the things she learns here. She gets up and leaves home very early in the morning and does her work conscientiously. Sometimes she has to answer up to 10 inquiries just on her way to the bathroom! If she ever feels wronged, she puts up with it and does her work with a smiling face. She often feels exhausted before leaving for home, but remains optimistic and happy about being an Expo volunteer. She wrote, "I just want to be a Little Bok Choy (nickname for Expo volunteers) despite the injustice and tiredness."
We often say different generations grow up in different circumstances, and their spiritual needs often vary from generation to generation. But young people all maintain the same will, responsibility and aspirations as their predecessors. These qualities are fully displayed at the Expo. In them, we can see a growing sense of citizenship, independence and social responsibility.
What is the most valuable legacy that the Shanghai World Expo will leave to these volunteers?
The Expo provides an excellent opportunity for these young men and women to develop their skills and experience in a social setting. The Expo also gives them a chance to cultivate their sense of citizenship and social responsibility as well as convey to them the message that everyone can work as a volunteer and make a worthwhile contribution to society.