Increased importance

In Xianyang, Shaanxi province, Li Ping worked as a nurse, real estate saleswoman and boss of a garment store before devoting herself to promoting voluntary environmental programs.

In 2015, when she heard that a friend was launching a voluntary environmental organization with support from the local authority, the 40-year-old decided to team up with him.

Explaining her decision, she said the environmental sector will continue to boom as China attaches greater importance to preservation work.

When Li worked in real estate, as her team's monthly sales champion, she usually made 20,000 to 30,000 yuan ($2,876 to $4,311) a month. But as deputy head of her organization, which is known as the Xianyang Ecological and Environmental Volunteer Association, her monthly salary is only about 3,000 yuan.

At the start, Li had little knowledge of environmental protection, but she was able to mobilize people thanks to the communication skills she gained from her 10 years' experience of selling property.

In motivating volunteers to help residents sort their trash, Li mainly targets seniors, as they have plenty of spare time for such work. But instead of choosing them at random, she only selects those who are influential in their communities.

"I develop good relationships with security guards and community committee officials. They know the residents well and can help acquaint me with those who are influential in their communities. This preparation makes me more efficient in my work," Li said.

She added that she has managed to persuade about 90 percent of the people she visited to voluntarily help residents sort their trash. Li said more than 200 seniors have volunteered for such work.

Her association, which now has 11 employees, mainly relies on funding from government purchases of its services. However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, the local authority has greatly reduced such spending, resulting in financial difficulties for the association.

Despite such challenges, Li is determined to forge ahead with her work.

"The association is very much my baby. I want to see it grow gradually and healthily. I don't have unlimited strength, but as long as I remain determined, we will surely see our water become clear and our mountains covered in greenery," she said.

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