On November 15, a delegation of UK social entrepreneurs visited the Huaihai Community Centre in downtown Shanghai with Mr. Wu Jianrong, the general secretary of the Shanghai YMCA, the managing organization of the community centre. Wu warmly received the UK visitors and introduced the history of YMCA as well as its mission, projects and the problems he had faced during the development of the organization.
The Shanghai YMCA was established in early 1900, but due to wars and the cultural revolution, it had little chance to grow until 1996. At that time, Wu had just finished his management studies in Japan and been appointed by the board as the general secretary of Shanghai YMCA. Wu found that in China there is much scope to develop work with older people and children, since both groups need greater social attention, perhaps especially so for children. In China, because of the one child policy, parents eagerly want their children to grow into well-qualified adults so the demand for family social services is huge. Based on this consideration, the YMCA decided to put its emphasis on older people and children and started projects like the Luoshan and Huaihai Community Service Centre.
The Luoshan Community Service Centre is currently the only group house for older people in an open style, combining a service center for youth with the service center for elders. This creates an opportunity for the elders to communicate with people from outside.
Asked how he managed to attract people to come and use the facilities of service center, Wu answered with phrase 'trust and responsibility'. After much research, the YMCA found trust to be an effective way to attract people to come to the centre. Wu explained that firstly they told the local people that all the facilities in the service center belonged to the residents themselves and that they should feel free to use them. They were encouraged to regard the facilities as if they were their own homes. The residents found it quite convenient and felt free there and so come along frequently; they would take the initiative to do the washing up and clean the tables just like at home.
When asked about the financial condition of YMCA, Wu told us frankly that the lack of funds is always a big headache. Currently there are 120 staff members working for YMCA and the total employment cost amounts to 150,000RMB. The income comes from three resources: house rent (contributes 30% of the whole income), including the income from the YMCA Hotel and other house estates; membership fees and donations, (contribute less then 10%); and management fees, including community service centers, the older persons' house and some training courses organized for children, like piano classes etc.
The UK delegates saw the Shanghai YMCA as a typical model of social enterprise since they already have both profit and nonprofit parts and former supports the latter. Wu expressed his thoughts on how to balance the need to make a profit with the volunteer spirit in a nonprofit organisation. For example, the sports club is an important financial resource to the YMCA so they want it to bring in as much profit as possible. But at the same time, as a nonprofit organisation, the YMCA should stick to its mission to serve disadvantaged people and should not think just of profit. After years of trial and error, they found a way to keep balance. They divided the sports club into two parts: one for middle class and the other for low income people and provide a professional paid for service to the former and free service to the latter. The free service is supported by the paid service. Wu also mentioned that the ultimate goal of the sports club is to enhance the value of a healthy life. Different from other profit-seeking gyms, the YMCA not only trains the healthy body but also promotes a healthy mind and a warm heart.
Wu also pointed out that the biggest topic for developing the YMCA in China is how to find some common ground between those who believe in God and atheists, and how to reform the Christian philosophy into a kind of culture that can be accepted by everyone. After 10 years of seeking, they have found that the most important word is 'love'. The bible itself talks about love, which is also the starting point of the YMCA. The services, whether the community center, elders' home or service center for youth, all come from 'love'. The philosophy of Love can be readily accepted by society at large and also meets the Christian mission.
In the afternoon, the UK delegation went to Pudong to visit the Luoshan Community Service Center, which is also operated by the YMCA. Luoshan is a comprehensive service center established by Shanghai YMCA/YWCA and the local government, and operated by Shanghai YMCA/YWCA. Taking 'people first' as its motto, the center encourages people to pay more attention to the community and to help their neighbourhood through all kinds of services in order to promote the idea of getting involved in community affairs and volunteering activities.
According to the introduction by the center coordinator, the Luoshan center consists of 4 parts: a Services Center for the Elders, a Service Center for Youth, a 999 Hotline and a Community Education Service Center. The UK delegates found the center provides not only clean and bright rooms and good facilities for the people living in the group home, but also sets aside spaces such as a library and a tea room for them to spend free time, talking, reading or playing chesses with others.
The 999 Hotline also drew the delegates' attention. 999 is a 24 hours hotline service provided to help the Pudong residents to resolve all kinds of trouble met in daily life. The service includes providing traffic information, shopping, electronic repairs, health care, private tutors and part-time housekeepers etc. The 999 Hotline network is organised by volunteers and provides free or low priced services. It not only makes good use of all kinds of resources but also promotes volunteering and encourages people to help each other in the neighbourhood.
In China, as a result of economic reform, the public sphere is moving from the work place to the community and Luoshan Community Service Center combines the motto 'People First' and the Christian philosophy of 'Love' into their services so as to meet the aspirations of the public sector in meeting the needs of the people but also reflecting current social trends. | |
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