Extraordinary Courage From Ordinary People

GOOD DEEDS & GOOD WILL - CEIBS volunteers were struck by the optimism and generosity of the villagers in the disaster area. Here, at a settlement near Chengdu.


        Volunteers Xu Lihong and Hu Bin (CEIBS EMBA 2008, Shenzhen), along with Hu's wife and another friend named Shi Wen, arrived in Chengdu on June 19 and stayed through June 24. An excerpt from Xu's diary:

        "During our four days in Sichuan, our chief task was to deliver childrens' books donated by CEIBS alumni to several libraries in the settlement schools, and to distribute 100,000 copies of Reader magazine to patients in the settlement hospitals, PLA troops, construction crews, and schools or tent schools. In the process, we traveled to many cities and counties severely hit by the quake: Dujiangyan, Mianzhu, Mianyang, Beichuan... 

        As I did this work, while I was often struck by the terrible power of nature, the most memorable emotion I have is of feeling inspired by the human virtues embodied in ordinary rural people. As the saying goes, "Don't hesitate to show good will, however small the act." I also believe the adage, "It is better to give than to receive." These two sayings offer the best illustration of the people I met in the disaster area. We help others and also ourselves when we turn good intentions into good deeds."


Note: For more information from the EMBA 2008 Shenzhen class, please visit  http://blog.sina.com.cn/ceibsemba08sz