Source: SYSU Youth Association

Written by: Zhao Jing

Translated by: Tan Shan

Recently, Lin Hongzhang, a postgraduate student from the School of Environmental Science and Engineering at SYSU, won the Ninth China Youth Volunteers Outstanding Individual Award. This is the highest individual award in the field of volunteer service nationwide.

While completing his study with distinction, Lin Hongzhang is public-spirited. He has been constantly active in the field of voluntary service for eight years, organizing more than 200 public welfare projects and adding up to 6,285 service hours. Lin once served as Assistant to the Director of the City Civilization Office of the Asian Games Organizing Committee Volunteer Department, Deputy Director of the Project Department of Guangdong Students’ Federation, Chairman of the Youth Volunteers Association of Sun Yat-sen University, Captain of the Dandelion Volunteer Teaching Team, Head of the 13th Postgraduate Volunteer Teaching Group of Sun Yat-sen University, etc. As the star of public service in Sun Yat-sen University, Lin has won several honorary titles such as the “National 1,000 Environmentally Friendly Envoys Green Pioneers”, "Silver Award for Volunteer Service in Guangdong Province”, "100 Outstanding League Branch Secretaries in Guangdong Province” and “Sun Yat-sen University’s First College Students Ten Persons of the Year”.

The deeds of Lin Hongzhang have attracted attention from the media and have been reported by People’s Daily, China Youth Daily, Guangzhou Daily, Nanfang Daily, Nanfang Metropolis Daily, New Express, Guangzhou Youth Daily, and Guangdong TV.

"If you do not give genuinely, you will never feel the kind of joy when a retarded child smiles at you; if you lack the experience of embracing migrant workers, you cannot feel the bitterness of life and the eager determination to change the status quo; if you have not got along with the left-home-kids, you will not understand their real needs and inner thoughts.” This is how Lin Hongzhang felt when he engaged in public services. He said: “Doing public services is addictive.”