Cui Xiaoli
ZHANG WEIGUANG, a Shenzhen teenager suffering from cerebral palsy, visited the Mangrove Nature Reserve ecological park for the first time in his life yesterday.
Accompanied by three volunteers, the 16-year-old inhaled fresh air and took in his surroundings. Zhang lives with his mother, who has always been too busy earning money for his treatment to take him to parks like this one. But with the help of volunteers, he finally managed to visit the mangrove reserve yesterday.
“The volunteers promise me that they will make me a trip once a month,” a happy Zhang said.
Zhang was one of the 50 disabled people to benefit from this year’s Project Care, which was launched at Lotus Hill Park yesterday.
The disabled people were divided into three groups. One visited the Mangrove Nature Reserve, another visited the recently opened Shenzhen Concert Hall, and the third climbed atop Lotus Hill to greet the statute of late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping.
“It is a great idea to have such a program to help the needy,” said Vianello Efren, an Italian tourist, who happened to be visiting the mangrove reserve.
Liu Yupu, newly appointed Party chief of Shenzhen and Mayor Xu Zongheng attended the opening ceremony. It was Liu’s first public appearance after he was appointed Jan. 2.
The leaders, along with other participants, signed their names on a scroll to show their support and willingness to help the needy.
“Shenzhen always sticks to the principal of being people-oriented and provides help to the disadvantage groups,” Xu said. He called for more individuals and institutions to get involved into the three-month campaign, which includes more than 300 activities.
The annual campaign is a major part of the city’s drive to build a caring and harmonious society. A total of 100 million (US$13.6 million) in donations had been collected since the project was initiated in 2003.
Liu Yupu, newly appointed Party chief of Shenzhen, and Mayor Xu Zongheng attended the opening ceremony. It was Liu’s first public appearance after he was appointed Jan. 2.
The leaders, along with other participants, signed their names on a scroll to show their support and willingness to help the needy.
The annual campaign is a major part of the city’s drive to build a caring and harmonious society.
