STORY: Faces of China: 10 Years of free lunches provides support for community in SW China
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: Sept. 16, 2024
LENGTH: 00:03:33
LOCATION: GUIYANG, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Elderly Assistance Charity Service Center in Guiyang
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ZHANG YONGXIN, Head of the Elderly Assistance Center in uiyang
3. various of the Elderly Assistance Charity Service Center in Guiyang
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ZHANG YONGXIN, Head of the Elderly Assistance Charity Service Center in Guiyang
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): XIE DEXIANG, Volunteer
6. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): CHENG JUNBEN, Volunteer
7. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): ZHANG YONGXIN, Head of the Elderly Assistance Charity Service Center in Guiyang
8. SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): LIAO GUIXIANG, Volunteer
9. various of volunteers delivering food to an old person
10. SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): ZHANG YONGXIN, Head of the Elderly Assistance Charity Service Center in Guiyang
11. SOUNDBITE 8 (Chinese): ZHANG YONGXIN, Head of the Elderly Assistance Charity Service Center in Guiyang
12. SOUNDBITE 9 (Chinese): ZHANG YONGXIN, Head of the Elderly Assistance Charity Service Center in Guiyang
13. various of old people joining activities in the center

STORYLINE:

35-year-old Zhang Yongxin heads a charity service center in Guiyang, China.

The center runs several restaurants offering free lunches every day at noon for elderly residents, especially those who are very old, disabled, or facing financial difficulties.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ZHANG YONGXIN, Head of the Elderly Assistance Charity Service Center in Guiyang
"I joined this charity organization for elderly assistance in November 2017. After volunteering for a while, I saw that the platform, the organization needed young people to help out more. So I decided to join full-time."

The community charity restaurants explore mutual support services for aging in place, with younger seniors helping older seniors.

Senior volunteers handle the cooking, cleaning, and dishwashing. Some volunteers have even transitioned from diners to volunteers.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ZHANG YONGXIN, Head of the Elderly Assistance Charity Service Center in Guiyang
"This is the head chef at the service center in our district. She joined us in 2017 and became the head chef in 2019."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): XIE DEXIANG, Volunteer
"I feel that serving these elderly people is a meaningful part of my life, and I quite enjoy working here."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): CHENG JUNBEN, Volunteer
"I mainly wanted to contribute more to the society, and I've been doing this from my 70s into my 80s."

SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): ZHANG YONGXIN, Head of the Elderly Assistance Charity Service Center in Guiyang
"This is Grandma Liao. A diner before, a volunteer now."

SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): LIAO GUIXIANG, Volunteer
"Being with everyone here makes me very happy. Serving others makes me feel that I'm achieving something for others as well as for myself. When I come to the center, I feel relaxed and healthier overall compared to staying at home. And I also feel much more cheerful."

SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): ZHANG YONGXIN, Head of the Elderly Assistance Charity Service Center in Guiyang
"Besides providing meals at our service center, we also deliver food to elderly individuals who have mobility issues or severe illnesses and cannot cook for themselves. If we encounter particularly needy seniors, such as those whose children are not close by, we'll deliver extra meals to their homes."

SOUNDBITE 8 (Chinese): ZHANG YONGXIN, Head of the Elderly Assistance Charity Service Center in Guiyang
"Today, we're serving fried rice with carrots, mushrooms, and vegetables. You can take your time eating it."

Since 2014, the elderly assistance charity service center in Guiyang has served about 2 million meals over 3,000 days.

SOUNDBITE 9 (Chinese): ZHANG YONGXIN, Head of the Elderly Assistance Charity Service Center in Guiyang
"At first, our goal was simply to provide the elderly with a hot, healthy, and nutritious lunch. But we soon realized that the elderly who came for the meals needed more than just food -- they needed care and companionship. They need a platform and space for social interaction, entertainment, and activities. So, we decided to transform the meal into a bridge, using it to bring the elderly together. We want them to engage in various activities suited to their age, support each other, exchange greetings, and show mutual care and concern. This way, they can find spiritual enrichment and enjoy a happier, more fulfilling later life."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Guiyang, China.
(XHTV)