[Thailand] Jinnakrit Natlada, Beijing Normal University
Mobile phones have become an indispensable tool in our daily life nowadays. You can almost do anything you want with your phone – browsing the news, shopping online and searching information. My lifestyle has changed a lot after coming to China. I have never used electronic payment before in Thailan but began to use it in China. Moreover, I have fulfilled a long-time dream with my phone in China.
I saw a quite moving commercial when I was a kid. In it, some kids with cancer or disabilities smiled and sang "Qué Será Será, whatever will be, will be..." on the stage, and their parents and the commercial director all burst into tears. I couldn't help crying after seeing it. Although they couldn’t see, hear, or even take care of themselves, they didn’t give up or were discouraged by these difficulties.
Since then I made up my mind to help the disabled and started to pay attention to public welfare issues. Although I really wanted to help those children, I didn't know what to do. After arriving in China, one day when I was using my mobile phone, I happened to see the “Love Donation” project at Alipay, in which I could do my contribution for charity at any time. Not a big sum though, I was always happy to contribute my share of charity.
At Apps such as Alipay and WeChat, I noticed and was attracted by charity projects such as "Love Donation”, “Ant Manor” and “Tencent Charity”. I have experienced difficulties before and understand that not everyone's difficulties are the same. Many people in this world just lack opportunities and need help. When I was in Thailand, I always wished to act as a volunteer to find and help those in difficulties, but I didn’t realize it until I was in China, quite unexpectedly, with the help of my mobile phone.
I could feel that these charity projects are helping my charity dream become true. Every time I make a donation, from my phone I could hear the kids’ voices whom I’ve helped, sometimes receive thank- you messages and paintings with grateful words such as " Thank you brothers and sisters for the kindness and encouragement." I'm really touched.
In addition to the donation for children, I’ve also participated in projects such as environmental protection, countryside tree-planting and stray animals rescue. These projects allow me to help others even though I am far away from them. Now that the environmental problems are getting serious and excessive loggings are making the environment worse, I hope that my donation to these projects could help grow a few more trees, and my donation to the stray animals could give them an extra meal so that they could live on.
I’m not really sure whether my donation could be of any help, but I carefully arrange my living expenses every month so that I am able to save and donate a little money. I have donated for more than half a year now and I’m very happy.
The reason of my donation is that I feel that I already have a lot of opportunities such as having enough food, being able to attend good schools, study abroad and pursue my dream. Maybe I don’t have much money, but I still want to help those in need with my humble charity. Our small donation could be a huge encouragement to them, like a beacon in the darkness.
I have never expected that my mobile phone has enriched my study - abroad life in such a way. As we use the modern science and technology, we not only enjoy the convenience it brings, but also gain mental fulfillment and happiness.
A Chinese proverb says, "Trickling currents converge into the sea;" and there is a similar saying in Thailand, "Big results always start from small things." I believe that everyone can make their own contribution, and gain happiness from helping others. I hope your beacon will shine in other’s heart, too.
The story is from "My Beautiful Encounter with China" Essay Competition organized by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchanges (CSCSE).
