Are you looking for something fun and would you like to help others in your spare time? Then join us to be a volunteer! We’re a non-profit (非赢利的) organization. We have volunteer jobs of all ages. Anyone, from twelve-year-old children to people in their seventies can become a volunteer.

You can help people in many ways. Schools need help with taking care of children while parents are working. Hospitals need volunteers to look after children while their parents are seeing a doctor. Animals lovers can help take care of those dogs and cats without homes. There is something for everyone.

“As a volunteer, I don’t want to get anything. Seeing the children’s happy faces, I’m happy, too.” said Carlos Domingo, an old woman of 62. “I often played computer games in my spare time before. Now I help older people learn how to use computers.” said another volunteer at the age of 18.

If everyone helps out a bit, we’ll have a better world to live in. Interested? Call us 1-800-555-5756 or visit our website: www. activol. com.

HUAPING, Yunnan, is one of the poorest areas in China. However, one school there has made a big difference. Over the past 12 years, it has sent 1800 poor girls to universities.

Zhang Guimei began to teach in Huaping twenty years ago. Many of her girl students would disappear just before they finished their studies. Zhang wanted to know why. She learned that these girls were from very poor families. They were forced （被迫）to work at a young age. “I really want to study,” one girl cried and told Zhang.

Zhang wanted to change this. She collected money and, in 2008, built the Huaping High School for Girls. It is China’s first and only free（免费的）high school for girls. “You are welcome here if you want to study” said Zhang.

It’s tiring to run such a school. Zhang is now in poor health after all these years of hard work. She has to take many different pills（药片）every day. However, she still puts in all her time and effort because the school and the students are more important to her than anything else. Zhang is really like a beacon（灯塔）of hope for the young girls in Huaping.

Henry is going through a very hard time. His wife just passed away. He feels that life without her is pointless. For months, Henry sits in his house, doing nothing.

Henry's neighbor, an old woman named Lisa, sees him from her yard one day. She has not seen him outside in days! She asks him to come closer to the fence(篱笆) next to her house.

“Hello, Henry! Just look at this fence. It is falling apart. You are a strong man. Can you help me fix this fence?” Lisa asks.

Henry is angry inside. He is the one who needs help right now. He thinks the old lady is being kind of rude(粗鲁的). But she is too old to fix the fence herself, so he agrees.

Henry works on the fence for days. When he finishes, she thanks him. Henry smiles for the first time in months.

“What a wonderful job! Could you please paint it for me” Lisa says to him.

Henry cannot believe she is asking for more help. But because he respects(尊敬) her, he agrees. He works hard painting the fence in the hot sun. As their neighbors pass by, they all tell Henry what a beautiful job he has done. Henry feels very happy.

Henry no longer feels that life is pointless. He finally understands that Lisa wasn't being rude. She knows that staying busy can help us forget our sorrows(伤痛). He helped her, but she truly saved him.