Author: Publicity Assistant Yin Yueyuan

NGOer, ENFJ, likes punk music, hiking.

When all these labels appear simultaneously on a NGOer,

That makes you want to get to know her.

Having graduated with a degree in English -

How did she get into the non-profit service?

And how does she keep her original intention and stays ahead on the road of public welfare?

Han Xu life photo

Han Xu, a girl from the north who works in Yunnan, is kind and sunny, always smiling and with a soft voice. After working with her for a while, I found that she is like a ray of sunshine, always bringing warmth to people.

When she knew I was going to interview her, Han Xu was very excited and said, "I'm so happy, it's been a long time since I've been interviewed by anyone, the last time I was interviewed was fifteen years ago when I was a volunteer in Poland."

01 An opportunity to access public welfare

In 2008, when I was studying in the university library, I saw a magazine on the bookshelf next to me presenting relevant organisations recruiting overseas volunteers, and since I was an English major, I was impressed when I saw that I could go overseas, and I began to think about my career direction after graduation. When I graduated, unlike other students, I signed up to volunteer overseas, and after passing the application, I flew to Poland in October to become a volunteer at a local church school.

Han Xu with volunteers of different nationalities

My school was very special, most of the students were "special children" from the local area, who had many "problems" in their growing up process due to family and personal reasons. They had psychological issues of different degrees. At the school I often introduced Chinese culture to the children, organised Chinese traditional festivals to experience traditional Chinese festivals activities. In one activity, a 10-year-old boy made a lantern in the shape of a Chinese dragon, and I praised him for being smart. But he replied that he wasn't smart because no one had ever praised him like that. The boy's words touched me deeply, - due to this incident I suddenly understood that volunteer work helped me to see the other side of society. By joining the public welfare sector I could benefit more people.

‘Follow your heart and the world will make sense’ - indeed, the time spent as a volunteer in Poland gave me very deep feelings.

Then I returned to my hometown of Shenyang and worked for five years as a medical social worker in a local public benefit organisation, where I was on the front line supporting families and people affected by HIV and carrying out peer education activities for people living with HIV. At the same time, I also carried out HIV prevention and treatment publicity and education among student groups and migrant worker groups.

2019 丨Han Xu joined the 5th Beijing, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan AIDS Forum (second from right)

02 Implementation of public welfare projects，

to a certain extent, it helps people to solve the problems they face

At HPP, I have been exposed to public welfare projects in different fields, including rural community development, rural early childhood development, public health and climate change.

We go to the frontline in remote villages and visit villagers and children to understand their individual and community needs, and support and help them materially and spiritually. No matter what projects we carry out, we always take the human factor into consideration and help them develop from the ground up.

I am most impressed by the “Preschools of the Future” project that HPP implemented in Zhenkang County, Lincang City, Yunnan Province. We worked with the community to build the first preschool class in the village, so that children aged 3-6 in the village could have a place to play.

It should be known that at that time there were no preschools in the villages of Yunnan, these children followed their grandparents to the fields, on the one hand, one of the labourers in the family was occupied taking care of the children, on the other hand, the children were unable to receive appropriate early education. After the project was launched, the project leader investigated the situation with the village committee, held a meeting with the villagers, selected suitable people in the village to become teachers, and carried out teacher training. The project's community development concept and model involves the village committee, and parents and villagers are also involved in the establishment of the early childhood classes, with the village mobilised to work together to repair the classrooms and refurbish the playgrounds. Villagers think this project has great significance, especially for children in remote areas, not only the parents' generation, but also the destiny of the next generation is changing in a subtle way. At the same time, the project concept of teaching a man to fish can help the community's ability to change their lives and future.

Han Xu (first from right) talks to the teacher of the preschool class

03 Mobilisation of social resources,

achieving sustainable development of public welfare

I am currently here at HPP in charge of creating project partnerships, where I have to mobilise society to support projects on the ground. I feel that my work is like a bridge, linking some specific social needs with people with resources in the society (government, enterprises, academics and charity partners). This work is actually a bit challenging.

By presenting the needs of our project area and presenting our project model, we can find some potential project partners. Through a number of multiple exchanges I follow up until both parties agree on the project proposal, which culminates in the implementation of a public welfare project.

In the process of developing project partnerships, I will get to know a lot of partners who are very important friends in my work and life. I think it's also a perk of my job that I get to meet a lot of great professional people from whom I can learn a lot and who are also very positive and upbeat.

Han Xu participated in the National Charity Fair in 2013 (right 1)

04 The development of public benefit certainly requires innovation

I like the fact that in my work I solve social problems by coming up with new solutions and taking new approaches.

Han Xu at the European Union Chamber of Commerce event in 2023 (left 1)

With the development of the times, the problems of the areas we serve are slowly changing from "poverty alleviation" to "development". Like our organisation HPP, because of the changing needs of the project areas, our project activities and services are also changing, and in the process we need to constantly innovate from the traditional poverty alleviation to the current rural revitalisation. Especially in the fields of scientific parenting and low carbon, more and more social organisations get involved, focusing on different directions of development in accordance with the characteristics of their own organisations, and a sizable scale has been formed by now. From the initial interest in the children's field, there is now a gradual tendency to focus on the field of climate change, which is also a relatively big change.

We must work in the context of the current social background and needs, co-ordinate social resources, and work with partners to continuously innovate and improve project design and use "new" methods to solve problems for people in need. To solve problems for the needy is also the reason why I have always stayd in the public welfare sector and this always motivated me to work in the charity sector. In this way, through my own efforts to help more people, my work makes me feel very fulfilled. Helping more people through my own efforts gives me a great sense of achievement.

05 Life as work

all need to keep the heart and the love

When it comes to life, I have many hobbies, listening to music, practising yoga, hiking, meeting with friends ...... I'm also a member of the e-people group. I am learning dance, I don't have any foundation, but I'm always willing to try, and I also find that the difficulties can be solved, I enjoy these good times in my life.

I think that no matter in work or in life, as long as we keep our beginnings, keep our love, and then insist on going all the way, we will reap a lot of love and surprise. In these 15 years of work, I have regarded myself as a public-spirited person, just like my attitude towards life, I love this job because I think it can bring me a lot of positive and valuable things.

Han Xu hiking after work

My public welfare work nourishes me and helps me think and grow. I also hope to make the world we live in a better place through my own small efforts, together with my partners.