At the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, volunteers known as “Little Oranges” were on hand to help competitors from different countries.

Two international students at Shanghai University (SHU)—Audrey Keiko Wilona from Indonesia and Bollahi El Hassen from Mauritania—joined the “Little Oranges” volunteer team through a selection process involving the university and the Society Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Jing’an District Committee. From September 20 to 26, they worked at the delegate restaurant in the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), providing directions, interpretation, and other assistance.

Addressing a Food Allergy Concern

The delegate restaurant served competitors with a variety of dietary needs. A Swedish competitor with a severe peanut allergy told volunteers that they had experienced an allergic reaction at their hotel the previous day. Wilona, who majors in Food Science and Engineering at SHU, asked whether the competitor was allergic to other legumes.

Knowing that soybean oil is commonly used in Chinese cooking, Wilona discussed the possible risk with on-site staff, kitchen personnel, and team leaders. As a precaution, the kitchen excluded dishes containing soybean oil from the competitor’s meals and used separate kitchen utensils.

Helping Find a Lost Backpack

With so many people passing through the restaurant, belongings occasionally went missing. A Japanese competitor became anxious after losing a backpack.

After receiving a request for help, Hassen reassured the competitor, provided interpretation, and asked what the backpack looked like and when and where it had gone missing. Hassen also helped police officers check the area and review surveillance footage. With help from Hassen, the police, and other staff, the backpack was found.

As members of the “Little Oranges” volunteer team, the two SHU international students drew on their language skills and knowledge gained through their studies to support competitors. Their experience highlighted the contributions of international students to cross-cultural exchange.

 

Source: Shanghai University