公益活动给民工子女带来新希望

At the CRI-sponsored concert given by the American music group "Trio Chicago & Friends" on Tuesday in Beijing, sit a crowd of special listeners including students from the Beijing Dandelion School for Children of Migrant Workers and their volunteers.

Both volunteers, Liu Xiaobo and Xiao Bo are employees with Microsoft China, a leading developer of personal-computer applications and operating systems.

Liu Xiaobo has been working for Microsoft China for 11 years.

He said Microsoft China arranges such charity activities once every 6 months. She took pencils, books and food purchased by colleagues for the visit to the migrant schools.

"I'm willing to contribute as much as I can, but had no idea where I should start. My company offers us a platform enabling us to join public welfare activities like this in order to give care and love to other members of society."

Xiao Bo is a new employee at Microsoft China as well as a young volunteer. She said that her company created her enthusiasm for charity by calling on their employees to be volunteers.

Thanks to these opportunities, she formed the opinion that the children of migrant workers are more considerate than their urban peers.

"As we provided the migrant children with food and toys, they didn't eat it or play with their new toys, explaining that they wished to share it with their parents when they returned home. By contrast, children from urban families are spoiled and often unwilling to share with others."

13-year old Teng Yanan said after the concert that she and her classmates always cherish such chances to broaden their horizons. She added that she's interested in studying English and wants to become a diplomat one day.

"I want to be a diplomat so that I can not only learn about the cultures in other nations, but also enrich our language."

But of course, Microsoft China aren't the only company willing to lend a helping hand.

China, and indeed the world, are filled with companies that have deep pockets and giving hearts.

Amway China, the direct selling giant, is another multinational corporation that has shown enthusiasm for public welfare in China, particularly children of migrant workers.

The company established a 100-million yuan Amway Charity Foundation to help migrant children in May 2005. It has recently set up another fund to support volunteer services in this area.

As of December 2011, Amway China had organized social services with the help of some 68,000 registered volunteers.

Audie Wong, President of the Company, explains the function of the new fund.

First, it supports research that is expected to serve as a powerful reference for the government to make relevant regulations and exhibit the achievements of Chinese volunteers. Second, the fund will be used to give volunteers professional training."

Whether it's huge multinational corporations or just a volunteer lending a helping hand, it's important to remember that simple ideas like social responsibility for disadvantaged groups can embolden lives and help build a better future.

For CRI, I'm Zhang Shuangfeng.