URUMQI — Ma Hongmei, of the Hui ethnic group, has been working in a multiethnic residential community in Northwest China for 15 years. Over the years, members of one Uygur family have grown from being complete strangers into those she considers closest to her.

When she first met Tuniyaz Dawut in 2009, his wife's polio meant she was physically challenged and unable to work. With two children to take care of, the Uygur couple relied solely on Tuniyaz's meager income.

The family became a great concern for Ma, and she helped them apply for a subsistence allowance and other aids to alleviate their financial difficulties.

In 2016, a paired assistance program was launched by the Guyuanxiang Community in Urumqi, the capital city of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Ma volunteered to pair up with Tuniyaz's family, and has been offering them care and assistance ever since.

Both sons in the family have had a passion for music since they were young, Ma says, but their parents couldn't afford musical instruments. Ma reported their situation to the community, and its then Party secretary, Liu Bo, decided to give his electronic piano to the family, giving the all-important push to the boys' journey into the world of music.

The paired assistance program is among the various activities that have been initiated by Guyuanxiang since 2001, according to Zhang Yaowen, the community's incumbent Party secretary. Zhang says that the community has some 4,800 residents, over 95 percent of whom are members of ethnic groups such as the Uygur, Kazak and Hui.

With the support of the community, Tuniyaz has obtained two job certifications through training, which have expanded his opportunities and improved his family's standard of living. He has also helped other residents facing difficulties.

One of his sons is studying at an art university, and the other has established his own music studio where he teaches the tanbur, a stringed instrument. Over the years, his sons have also participated in community volunteer services, repaying the favors they once received.

Today, mutual assistance between neighbors is a customary practice in the community that has become a platform for emotional exchange and integration among different ethnic groups.

According to Zhang, the community has created 41 WeChat groups to establish an on-demand network, aiming to improve its services and management. "When residents voice their complaints, or express their difficulties or demands, the community staff members follow up promptly and provide a solution for each specific matter."

During the summer vacation, for example, when parents have to work through the day, the community has provided nursery services for children aged 3 to 5, and launched interest-oriented classes for children aged 6 to 15, with focuses ranging from intangible cultural heritage to soccer.

The community has also created a stage for its senior residents, enriching their lives in retirement, he says, adding that various art groups for seniors have been formed, including a choir, a modeling team, an instrumental ensemble and a dance troupe. And each year, the community organizes an average of over 70 cultural events in which all residents can participate.

Feng Yanxiang, 66, once a resident of the community, is now head of the Xingguang Choir, whose name translates into "starlight", with members ranging in age from 56 to 81. She established the choir after retiring from her job as a road passenger traffic announcer, hoping to help its retired members with their social lives and hobby development.

Over some 14 years, the choir has not only become a platform for senior residents to explore their talent, but also turned the members into a close-knit family.

Choir member Rizwangul Abduriyim was diagnosed with gastric cancer in 2019. That year, Feng mobilized other members to provide assistance and encouraged her to continue participating in the choir's activities after her surgery.

Today, Rizwangul is recovering well. She prepares meals at her home during the Corban Festival, and she has invited Feng to spend this festival with her.

Currently, the community has about 740 volunteers and eight volunteer services teams in fields such as transportation, medical services and cultural exchange.

Xinhua