Vital work of Shanghai volunteers

By Lu Feiran  |   2009-5-5  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

THE first Shanghai social worker volunteer group left for Mianyang in Sichuan Province on May 20 last year, eight days after the massive earthquake.

The group of 12, including five social work experts from Shanghai and Hong Kong, went to shelters in Mianyang to assess the psychological condition of survivors as well as the rescuers and medical workers.

In June, Shanghai was designated to help in the restoration of Dujiangyan and social workers then concentrated on the city.

Three teams went there in July to help survivors adjust to life in temporary shelters. A total of 53 people from Fudan University, Shanghai Normal University and Pudong Social Worker Association stayed for about a month.

They helped survivors establish long-term and effective management systems and provided training. In January, the Dujiangyan Social Work Association was established, with some Shanghai experts becoming co-workers and advisors.