Working in China 237Positive interaction with foreign NGOs in recent years
has softened the government’s posture toward foreign
entities doing charity work in China. What used to be
viewed as interference is now viewed as a legitimate
constructive channel for taking care of groups of people with
special needs.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, foreigners had to do
good works in China informally and discreetly through
personal contacts. Today, reputable organisations and
committed volunteers have regained the trust of China’s
people and leaders. Early entrants into China included
the Red Cross and Amity. China’s first modern charitable
foundation was started in 1981. Since that time, nearly 2,000
have come into being.
Challenging the China belief that, as one NGO report puts
it, ‘an individual citizen’s responsibilities stop at their front
gate; and that it is up to the government to solve problems
not the citizens’, is an immense undertaking. Individual
involvement in charity is growing rapidly in China. Some
organisations, like Care for Children which chooses families
to provide foster care for children, have a natural affinity
with Chinese. In a country where you are usually allowed
only one child, the opportunity to bring a second child into
the home has great appeal.
Giving Back to the Community
Corporations like Intel are providing a worthwhile model to create
citizen involvement in the community. At Intel’s manufacturing
plant in Shanghai, an employee group is given an amount of money
to allocate for charitable contribution each year. Because of Intel’s
commitment of giving back to the communities that its facilities
are located in, employees are guided to put money where they can
see a visible return. It is easier for many to give when they see the
benefit firsthand.Many groups have found that once a new cause has been
properly introduced, Chinese will embrace and support it. A
good example of this is the Special Olympics. In China, it was
viewed as shameful to have an intellectually challenged family