Ten thousand volunteers launched their voluntary service yesterday (Sep. 16th, 2007), marking the beginning of the first “Volunteers’ Week” in Guangzhou. The launching ceremonies were held in 12 districts respectively, along with the voluntary service provided at the scene.

Students participating in Volunteer Week make a vow.

Over 100,000 people from 1,130 voluntary teams and 890 organizations participated in the event. Over 100 categories of voluntary service are provided including electrical home appliance maintenance, antique appraisal and consultation on pets.

Olympic Champion Chen Xiaomin and the 2010 Asian Games emblem designer Zhang Qiang attended the launch ceremony held at Hero Plaza in Yuexiu District and called for people’s participation to build Guangzhou into a National Civilized City and prepare for the coming 2010 Asian Games.

The launch ceremony at Hero Plaza, Yuexiu District.

“We hope we can see the ‘red hats’ of volunteers appear everywhere in the city,” General Secretary of Guangzhou Youth Volunteer Association Xie Tianwen told the reporter. “100,000 red hats were sent out yesterday and we had to run up 100,000 brooches as well.”

With 53,000 new members this year, Guangzhou now has 680,000 registered volunteers.

(By Helena Zhang and Alan Devey)