Public welfare body, society comes forward to help international students in Wuhan

International students in universities in Wuhan, Hubei province, were under good care after the city was hit by the novel coronavirus outbreak as teachers, classmates and people from across the country came forward to help them.

As part of the support for the students post-outbreak, the Beijing 51Give Socially Responsible Development Centre, a non-governmental public welfare organization, donated food and medical protection supplies on Thursday to hundreds of international students from seven universities in the hardest-hit city, including those from the Wuhan University and the South-Central University for Nationalities.

The donations, initiated by Assignment Beijing, China (a TV program) and organized by the center, aims to show care and love for international students who are far away from their homeland and families, the center said in a press release.

The donations were made possible also thanks to the assistance from the diplomats from Benin, Ethiopian and Nigerian embassies in China, the press release said.

A group of donors identified as "Jia family" said in the press release that they have heard of many heartbreaking stories of racism against Asians during the epidemic. "We want to take good care of these international students studying in China and support the universities. The way we treat our international friends is a direct reflection of our friendship and respect for their home country," they said.

Helen Han, a manager from the Assignment Beijing, China, said she values the opportunity to reach out and care for our international friends who are far away from their parents and hometown during the outbreak. "This warm gesture symbolizes our solidarity and sincere friendship, which is the essence of shared future for mankind," Han said.

Mikaela Wang, vice secretary-general of 51Give team, said since the start of the outbreak, China has been protecting its people and foreign nationals in the country. "China's collective thinking and the progress made in governance can truly be appreciated in times of disaster. As a master's student myself, reaching out to international students who are under lockdown in Hubei is a natural extension of that philosophy," Wang said.

With the coronavirus pandemic, China is facing one of the biggest challenges it has ever encountered since it opened up. Indeed, the virus has quickly become a challenge for the whole world and has now spread to every continent including Africa, according to Hafsat Abiola, President of the Women in Africa Initiative (WIA).

"Thank you for supporting international and African students in Hubei. At times like this, such acts of solidarity make all the difference. May your actions inspire all peoples of the world to support one another in meeting this challenge and to save as many lives as possible. The human family will get through this, especially if we all support one another," the WIA President said.

Ibrahim Sangare, 23, who comes from Cote d'Ivoire and is studying business administration at the South-Central University for Nationalities, said he thanked the donors very much for their kindness at a time when the city is in a difficult time.

Sangare said his family was comfortable about his safety in China as he has told them how the Chinese government and people were helping him and his classmates.

The measures that the Chinese government has taken to protect its people and foreign nationals living in China are impressive, so are the Wuhan residents' self-sacrifices, he said.

The Beijing 51Give Socially Responsible Development Centre has the mission to strengthen close cooperation with governments, enterprises, social organizations and individuals to solve problems between human development, social progress and ecological environment in an innovative and sustainable way, continuously promote harmonious development of mankind, society, nature, and ultimately benefit the whole society.