Foreign Volunteers Find a Place and Purpose in Shanghai

Italian volunteer Gian Filippo Murari spends part of his life in Shanghai visiting local classrooms with his wife. He brings photos of Italian cities, teaches simple Italian greetings and talks about Dante, football and pizza.

Murari, whose Chinese is clear but not yet fluent, often shares an Italian phrase, "dolce far niente," which means "the sweetness of doing nothing."

He explained that spending time with the students and sharing his culture gives that phrase new meaning for him.

"Today, sharing with you is the sweetest thing I am doing," he said.

Stories like Murari were highlighted this week as Shanghai held its International Volunteer Day event in downtown Jing'an District on Friday.

The event marked the 40th International Volunteer Day and the start of preparations for the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development in 2026.

The event served as a platform to celebrate cross-border volunteer efforts like Murari's, while also framing the city's role in global volunteerism.

Sukhrob Khoshmukhamedov, head of the External Relations and Communications Section of UN Volunteers, emphasized Shanghai's role as a hub for volunteer innovation and practice during his remarks at the event.

He said international cooperation becomes stronger when it connects with the experience of cities like Shanghai.

He called for a more open and diverse space so more people can volunteer, extending an open invitation to individuals who want to share their time and skills to support sustainable development.

The event framed foreign volunteers as an integral, regular component of the city's service network. Volunteers from Indonesia, Mauritania, France, Italy and other countries shared their on-the-ground experiences, which span roles in cultural events, community spaces and international exhibitions alike.

During the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) this past November, a Nigerian exhibitor and a Chinese buyer hit a wall in their negotiations. They could not move their conversation forward because of language barriers.

Indonesian volunteer Audrey Keiko Wilona stepped in and translated between Chinese and English. Her help allowed them to continue their discussion. They exchanged contact information and began to explore cooperation.

This June, Wilona added another feather to her cap: She took home second prize in a Jing'an District volunteer micro-lecture competition, delivering her speech in fluent Mandarin as she talked about her journey learning to play the guzheng, a traditional Chinese string instrument.

She performed "Ode to the Red Plum," a piece linked to stories of Chinese revolutionary figures, and received strong applause from the judges and audience. "These are unforgettable experiences for me," Wilona said.

The event stage also featured Chinese volunteers whose work extends abroad.

Zhang Binfeng shared his plan to leave for Pakistan in two weeks with 66 refurbished laptops. His project, called the Reborn Computer Classroom, began in 2009 in a Shanghai neighborhood.

He repaired second-hand computers so they could be used in places with limited digital resources. Over the years, his team has developed a full model that includes hardware repair, software setup, local training and follow-up support.

To date, the project has built 661 computer classrooms across six countries, benefiting more than 300,000 children.

Zhang recalled watching a young boy type his first words on a refurbished laptop, a moment, he said, cemented his resolve to keep growing the project.

"It was a scene I'll never forget and, it's what gives this program its true meaning," he said.

Shanghai officials said volunteer work now spans a broad spectrum of city life, encompassing community care, public safety, large-scale conferences, cultural events and neighborhood outreach efforts.

Foreign volunteers also play a unique role in showcasing the city's everyday life to the rest of the world through their first-hand experiences living and serving in Shanghai.

Local authorities emphasized that Shanghai will continue to align its volunteer services with international standards, leveraging its strong pool of professional talent in fields like public health, emergency response and low-carbon development.

Volunteers will continue to help explain China stories through direct community work, a city official said.

The city has also rolled out new digital tools to support volunteers. A platform named "Suishenban · One Code for Volunteering" brings volunteer registration, service matching, record-keeping, evaluations and incentives into a single system.

The official explained that the tool will streamline volunteer services, making them more accessible and ensuring greater consistency across the city's various districts.