Wang Xiukun, a graduate student from Wuhan University of central China's Hubei province, the former epicenter of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), introduced China's anti-epidemic experience and achievements to young people from all over the world, sharing her own stories of being a volunteer during a recent United Nations (UN) seminar.

 

On the evening of April 15, the Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund jointly held a seminar on joint response to COVID-19.

 

Wang summarized China's experience during the epidemic prevention and control and shared keywords with other young people at the seminar: first, "confidence", which means that the predicament is temporary, as long as we firmly believe that the epidemic will pass, we can remain calm and strong; second, "cooperation", which means that no one is an isolated island, and the key to overcoming the epidemic lies in unity among people and cooperation between countries.

 

During the epidemic, Wang, together with other students from the Youth Volunteer Association of Wuhan University, paired up with the families of more than 600 front-line medical staff in Wuhan to provide online tutoring and psychological counseling for young people aged 5- 18.

 

Wang’s life was enriched after she devoted herself to volunteer work. "I was too busy to feel anxious." Since Feb. 9, she has been making every effort to coordinate online tutoring for medical workers' children, pair-up volunteers with families in need, optimize teaching programs, and guide children's psychological care. She often had to work until the wee hours of the morning.

 

After sharing her stories, Wang gave some suggestions on relieving psychological stress, such as developing a favorable work and rest habit at home, communicating more closely with family members, or making full use of this special period to work hard and make plans for the future.

 

Wang, born in 1997, graduated from Jinan Foreign Language School and is currently a first-year postgraduate student majoring in German at Wuhan University.

 

As to her participation in the seminar, Wang revealed that she was both excited and anxious, and her speech has been revised five or six times. However, when she spoke as the representative of the Chinese youth, she felt a sense of pride and patriotism, which strengthened her belief to continue to be engaged in voluntary services.

 

"I want to work in the United Nations in the future and take advantage of my foreign language skills to help more people," said Wang.