Established on April 2nd, 2011, Free Lunch program was then followed by Volunteer Station in Guangdong, which was set up on December 7th, 2011.

It was destiny that connected this charity program with a common public welfare dream of a group of university students, leading to a brilliant story of volunteer station in Guangdong.

Friendship that lasts for 6 years

To begin with, they were just classmates in senior high school with a thought about social welfare. Then they founded the Volunteer Station in Guangdong. Three years has gone so fast, they become office workers all over China after graduation, however, the experience working as a volunteer in Free Lunch program still stays with them as well as their long-lasting friendship.

According to them, their belief in public welfare can be simplified into three sentence:" I need to do it--I can do it--I am willing to do it." Though it can be tired and busy sometimes, this experience accompanies them with happiness.

Volunteering in Free Lunch program for three years

During the past three years, the volunteer station has created various ways to attract more interests of college students to free lunch program while maintaining the brand. For instance, Volunteer Station has held “Free Lunch program in university” activity, charity concert, charity run and roadshow to promote Free Lunch in front of students. In addition, they have held sharing meetings in universities in Guangdong Province with volunteer troop in Guangzhou. Furthermore, Volunteer Station plays an important role in planning and organizing the appreciation party held by Guangzhou volunteer team at the end of year as well as the third anniversary of Free Lunch Program.

In addition, the extensive publicity and interactions with society increase the vitality of Volunteer Station. They get down to the neighborhoods, cooperate with the companies and search for resource to improve themselves, aiming to stand on a higher stage. 

Moreover, based on experienced volunteers, Volunteer Station organizes the first alumni association, aiming to provide latter volunteers with resource and convenience of former ones, so that they can expect a virtuous circle and sustainable development for the Volunteer Station. On the other hand, the volunteers can also acquire the ability they need in workplace.

The volunteer team has been faced with queries, coldness and unpopularity when they held charity sales, however, they should not have been treated like this because these actions simply start from the will to help children in need. Charity is more than giving alms, public welfare is never showcase. Our aim is to realize the dream that every students is able to have a healthy lunch while creating a way to ensure openness and transparency during distribution. They propose that everyone saves the money on a meal in KFC, a fancy cloth or an equipment in computer game to help us provide a free lunch for children in poverty.

Until the February 2014 , Volunteer station has successfully held 19 activities to promote Free lunch for children, including 6 charity concerts, 2 experience sharing meetings in university and one charity run, having increased the awareness of more than 500 thousands of students and teachers in university and raised donation amount of ￥70877.5 in total, which is equivalent to 29452 lunches we can provide for children in remote area of China.

Home for volunteers

The Volunteer Station recruits students who are warm-hearted in public welfare every year. They spend the after-class time on Free Lunch, developing deep friendships while making up an executive, efficient and helpful volunteer team.

Starting from Guangdong, influencing China

The third anniversary is not only a new start to Volunteer Station, but also a crucial period in its development. The Guangdong volunteer station is the first team consisting of university students in Free lunch volunteer family. Based on the activities in university, we shall help set up more volunteer stations for university students by expending the volunteer team while improving the constitution. Influenced by them, some students in Zhejiang and Jiangsu Province begin to recruit students to establish volunteer station. We sincerely hope that we can introduce this pattern to other universities to increase the awareness of the public, thus more students can take active part in our program and share the happiness of helping others by uniting their power. 

How the volunteers express their love for Free Lunch

Three years went by, all of the founders of Volunteer Station have graduated this year. They have something to share with us about how they think of public welfare and Free Lunch for Child program:

Little friend (former station leader)

Three years has gone so fast. Although I live overseas now, I am really happy to hear the good news from Volunteer Station. And I feel at ease when I know that all of volunteers work very hard. Thank you, volunteers! You are pretty angles. It’s you who let more people know the Free Lunch program, get more children in poor village rid of hunger and pass the station to junior volunteers. Don't forget your dream and keep working efficiently, professionally and innovatively. Happy birthday to Guangdong Volunteer Station!

Hongzai (former station leader)

The Volunteer Station makes me feel at a loving and warm home. Be a man with your feet on the ground and do everything in the best of you. Good luck to Volunteer Station!

Jiaming (former station leader)

We have been growing up with the children we helped since the establishment of Volunteer Station. Happy birthday to Volunteer Station!

Jiangyoujie (former station vice president)

I have been moved for many times during the past two years in volunteer team. I am moved by the tender feelings to volunteer station of the male founders as well as the hard work we did to the volunteer station. The three-year anniversary is crucial to the development of Volunteer Station. I hope that our volunteer team is able to increase more awareness of university students towards Free Lunch program. Maybe ten or twenty, even fifty years later we shall still feel touched by these day as a volunteer. Come on, volunteers!

Bobo (former first secretary)

It has been 3 years since we first started the volunteer station. As one of the founder, I have a deep love for it. Although I am in my employment now, I am still concerned about it. I have gained a lot from the experience of being a volunteer: I used to be introversive, while I am more confident about performing my duty now. I have also made a number of close friends thanks to volunteer station. We have gone through failures, but we have also received honor. The Volunteer Station is a stage where we can help other people, make friends and learn from others. I wish all the best to the Station in the future, and I hope that each member in our volunteer team can find what they need when they help others.

Without the aid of volunteers and other groups in our society, we could not have had these activities done successfully. We volunteer station are truly grateful to the volunteers for their hard work, time and faith in our program. It is you who make a difference. We would also like to express our gratitude to the executive committee, the volunteer team in Guangzhou and universities who give us much support. Let us work together to help the children with our love. Happy birthday to the Volunteer Station!