Retirees feel good in helping society

BEIJING - Zhang Huishu, 73, strides vigorously on the sidewalk of Zhanlanlu Street in Beijing's Xicheng district.

She habitually swings her arms and is sometimes spotted giving people directions with a deep Shandong province accent.

At first glance, many passers-by mistake her for an ordinary senior citizen who is killing time by doing exercises in the afternoon.

But Zhang is living her retirement years to the fullest by helping society.

Wearing a conspicuous red armband that reads "safety security volunteer" in Chinese and English, Zhang is one of the capital's many resident-cum-security volunteers, who assist police forces to keep an eye on public order during the ongoing sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

The office of the Zhanlanlu Neighborhood, where Zhang lives, has rallied about 2,500 people, 80 percent of whom are retirees aged between their 50s and 70s, from its 21 communities to serve as security volunteers, said Wang Huiping, an official in charge of the move.

"Our senior volunteers come from the community volunteers' associations. They take turns to patrol in residence compounds and organize cultural and public activities. They are experienced and dedicated to community affairs," Wang said.

Volunteers like Zhang are assigned to streets near hotels where NPC and CPPCC delegations are staying, in morning and afternoon shifts.

"They are expected to be on the watch for suspicious characters and emergencies, and to report to police officers on time," Wang said.

"We select people who are in good physical condition. Still, we want them to ensure their personal safety first and leave the main job to the police. For those who are stationed on the streets, we ask them to wear enough clothes and work on a flexible schedule which depends on when the delegations leave and return to the hotels," Wang said.

Zhang has been a safety security volunteer for four consecutive years. This year's sessions rank as one of her most chilly experiences, with plunging temperatures and piercing winds in the past few days.

"We are aged but we are still able to make contributions to the country and people. It is our honor and responsibility as residents of the capital," Zhang said.

"We also volunteered for the Beijing Olympic Games. We are carrying forward the spirit of volunteering," said Deng Zhaolan, 68.

When they are off duty, the neighborhood's volunteers also have a lot to say about topics being hotly debated at the annual sessions.

One of Zhang's grandchildren attends middle school and she hopes that schools will reduce the heavy homework load on students. Other volunteers are worried about the accelerating housing prices and expensive medical fees.

They also express concerns with the aging issue, since the neighborhood has seniors aged 60 and above who account for about 21 percent of its registered residents.

China Daily

(China Daily 03/06/2010 page1)