BEIJING: I have met a lot of people from different countries living in Beijing through our volunteer team, and I have found that they really love the city. Some are married to Chinese people, and they truly regard China as their home and want to live better lives here.
But they encounter all kinds of difficulties and need a channel to voice their demands and ask for help. Foreign students may have problems finding a suitable job after graduation, newcomers may struggle to rent an apartment, and some parents may not be able to afford to send their children to expensive international schools.
What’s more, some are experiencing anxiety because they haven’t been able to return to their countries or travel abroad for several years due to the nation’s quarantine requirements to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
By communicating with them, our team found that they really need someone to listen to and understand them, and offer them help. This is what our team is doing. We have collected their concerns about their living, social and psychological needs to serve as references for government departments. It takes time to cultivate trust. Besides listening to their needs, we also include the expats in our chat group, where we update them with the latest policies and send them invitations to participate in activities.
–The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
