Every year thousands of young people in England finish school and then take a year off before they start work or go to university. Some young people go to other countries and work as volunteers(志愿者). Volunteers give their time to help people. For example, they work in schools or hospitals, or they do something helpful for the environment.

Pauline Jones, 18, lives in Cardiff, Wales. Next year she wants to go to university to study Chinese, but now she’s living in Belize. Pauline says, “I’m working with other people here to save the carol reefs(珊瑚礁) in the sea near Belize. The reefs here are beautiful, but if the sea water is very polluted, the carol will die. I’m helping do search on the carol and the fish that live around the reefs. All over the world, carol reefs are dying. We need to do something about the problem before it’s too late.

“I’m staying with a family here and help do some homework. I don’t get any money, but that’s OK. I love my work, and I’m learning a lot about the people of Belize—and myself. When I finish my work, I want to stay here for another three months. I want to travel around Belize and Central America.”

Technology is everywhere. We see it any place we go and, in fact, almost all of us carry some piece oftechnology with us every time we leave the house. What I always forget, though, is just how useful andpowerful technology can be when we want to help others

There is not a single room in my house that does not have some electronic devices（设备） lying around init. Whenever I am at home， I am almost always using at least one electronic device. If you walked into myliving room on any given day， you would find that， first， I have the television on. At the same time， I usuallyhave my laptop resting on my knee， or I will be using my mobile phone， Even when i＇m not at home I amalways using my phone， and at work or in cafes， I sit down and connect to the local wireless network on myipcop.

I must say that I waste a lot of time on the computer and the time I spend on it could be much betterspent if I were to take up a little online volunteering

The technology we carry about everywhere can have a great power to do good for the world and to helpothers and recently I discovered just how much online volunteering there is to do in the world. From usingyour language skills to do translations， to developing and managing projects and helping with IT work， thereis so much that so many people can do to help people in their own countries and across the world. The UnitedNations， in fact， has a huge page with “Volunteers Recruited” on its website.

This work can support the poor and help charities who cannot pay for staff. Many organizations onlyrequire you to work an hour a week-some even less. And the support provided by online volunteers can reallyhelp make a difference to those in need.

A poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk.

He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"

"You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness." He said, "Then I thank you from my heart."

As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists (专家) to study her rare disease.

Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.

Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case.

After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room.

She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She began to read the following words: "Paid in full with one glass of milk"