In September, China launched a new round of recruitment of young Chinese volunteers to provide services in Asian, African and Latin American countries.

The organizers, namely the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, the Ministry of Commerce and the Chinese Youth Volunteers Association (CYVA), plan to recruit 150 to 200 volunteers in the 20-35 age bracket this time, according to a notice carried in Chinese newspapers.

They will be dispatched in two batches this year, with the first batch of around 100 volunteers to go to Laos and Ethiopia to teach Chinese and sports and provide services in medical and health care, information technology, agricultural technology, economic administration and social development.

Thirteen will leave for Laos at the end of September and 60 for Ethiopia at the end of October. The rest will leave by the end of this year.

According to the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, which initiated the program to dispatch young volunteers abroad in 2002, 109 young Chinese volunteers have been dispatched abroad since 2002 to countries including Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Ethiopia to teach Chinese and sports and provide services in medical and health care, agricultural technology, giving instructions on how to use a computer and international rescue efforts.

"China has achieved a good beginning in overseas volunteer services," said an official with the committee. "Our efforts have attracted attention of various circles in China and abroad and won praises of the beneficiary countries and people."

He said the committee will actively, steadily and gradually push forward the work. The number of target countries, service areas and content of services will be expanded.

According to the committee, applicants must have received college education, have a clean record and good health. Before leaving for their posts abroad, they shall receive training in discipline, principles of volunteer services, teamwork spirit, security, psychology, knowledge about the country they'll work in, professional skills and other subjects related to volunteer services.

Source: Xinhua