A charity foundation was recently established in Shanghai to encourage more people within the international community to participate in charitable services.

Established on Aug 27, the Bless Foundation aims to support charitable projects related to matters such as medical treatment, education relief and the training of youth volunteers, said Cao Lan, the person in charge of the foundation.

Among these projects is the Silent Barista initiative which is supported by Oatly, an oatmilk company that has since 2020 sponsored barista training for over 200 hearing impaired people, Cao said.

Another project organized by the foundation saw a group of youths aged 12-17 from different nationalities travel to China's southwestern Yunnan province to become volunteer teachers.

"By participating in such a charity trip, I found great joy and satisfaction in serving others," said 13-year-old Louie, one of the volunteers involved in the project.

"It is by being a part of BLESS that we can influence the next generation to become individuals with a caring heart who do good for society," said Chen Zhenmin, deputy secretary general of China Volunteer Service Federation and vice president of Shanghai Volunteer Association.

Supported by The Expatriate Center (TEC), a non-profit organization that serves the expat community in Shanghai, the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (SPAFFC), the Shanghai Voluntary Services Foundation, Shanghai Yicai Flying Foundation and Kunshan Jie En Foundation, as well as enterprises including iLuvVivid, a painting company, and Oatly, the foundation intends to carry out more projects focused on disability assistance, with the goal of providing professional skills training and job counseling to them, Cao said.

Volunteers can participate in charity activities through the TEC WeChat mini program, which was developed by the center.

"I wish the Bless foundation will help underprivileged students, the disabled, the poor and the needy gain a brighter future," said Jing Ying, vice president of SPAFFC.

Noting how many volunteers from foreign and local communities came together to combat the COVID-19 epidemic in Shanghai, Jing said that the act of volunteerism has no boundaries and brings the nation together in unity.

Zheng Zheng contributed to this story