Xinhua News Agency, Shijiazhuang, June 29 - Title: Where is the Road for Grassroots Charity Websites? - Investigation of the "China Gratitude Network Shutdown" event. Reporters Zhang Tao, Fan Shi Hu, and Wu Xiao Ying of Xinhua News Agency's "China Web Story."
"This lamp has run out of fuel, gasping for breath, and after five years of operation, the website has incurred a debt of more than ten thousand yuan... Although there are too many attachments and concerns, I am truly powerless..." After struggling to maintain it for five years, an "80s generation" couple from a humble background announced online their intention to shut down the charity website they founded, "China Gratitude Network."
So, why did these "80s generation" university students create a charity website? Is the website really shutting down? Why do grassroots charity fundraising activities frequently end up in a "dead end"? With these questions, reporters from Xinhua News Agency's "China Web Story" contacted the founders of the website to understand the story behind the shutdown.
(China Web Story) The Shutdown of Grassroots Charity Website Draws Online Attention
On June 13, "China Gratitude Network" issued a website closure announcement. In the thousand-word announcement, it stated: "Today, I regretfully have to announce to everyone that due to long-term debt operations, the website will be forced to close at the end of June. With tears in my eyes, I wrote this farewell letter for the five-year-old Gratitude Network."
The news of the impending closure of "China Gratitude Network" sparked strong attention online. Entering "China Gratitude Network closure" into the Baidu search bar yielded over 300,000 related pieces of information, with netizens discussing it extensively on Weibo and blogs.
Xu Lina, who announced the notice, is the founder of the website. In the announcement, she recounted the growth process and achievements of the website since its establishment in 2006: "In five years, we organized more than 60 large and small charity events, raising over 600,000 yuan for social charity causes. We helped more than a hundred orphans, saved 12 lives of congenital heart disease patients by coordinating hospital fee reductions, raised tuition for underprivileged children, performed charity shows at nursing homes, and arranged skill training for disabled individuals, among other themed charity activities."
After learning about the imminent closure of the website, many netizens who had received help through the site encouraged Xu Lina to continue running it via phone calls, text messages, and online posts. Netizen "Hai Zhi Lan" said: "Great job! The courage and love of these two '80s generation' young people are truly touching and admirable."
A netizen named Qiu Yi Song lost a leg in a car accident last December. In a situation of unresolved disputes and utter helplessness, he sought assistance from "China Gratitude Network." Through donations collected via the website, Qiu Yi Song was able to afford a prosthetic leg. "Only now do I realize that while Xu Lina was helping others, she herself also desperately needed help," he remarked.
(Reporter Investigation) Grassroots Charity Websites Face Financial Struggles and Operational Difficulties
When reporters from "China Web Story" met with Xu Lina, the founder of the website, in a simple office in Shijiazhuang, she and her husband were busy answering emergency calls. Despite the fact that the closure date was approaching.
With short hair, dressed in a plain black dress, wearing no jewelry, Xu Lina appeared older than her actual age. Pointing to her dress, she said, "This was given to me by a kind person. My classmates and friends all think I'm a bit unusual." Born in a remote village in Shaanxi, Xu Lina came from a poor family. From elementary school to university, she received help from many kind-hearted people during her more than decade-long academic journey.
"Establishing this website was to repay kindness, to express gratitude to those who once helped me, and to build a bridge of 'love' between those in need and kind-hearted individuals in society," Xu Lina frankly explained when talking about the original intention behind founding the website. "At the time, it was driven by a sense of giving back to society, wanting to do something to help others."
When Xu Lina founded "China Gratitude Network," she was still a senior student at Hebei University of Science and Technology. The initial form of the website was a forum-style "small workshop." Xu Lina spent 70 yuan to buy a domain name, 200 yuan for hosting space, and another 200 yuan to hire someone to design the webpage. Without even a computer, she posted and managed everything from internet cafes.
On June 1, 2006, "China Gratitude Network" officially went online. As the website's fame grew, so did its traffic, with increasing numbers of people seeking help and donors contributing funds. However, doubts began to emerge online. A netizen named "Star" commented: "The internet is virtual; who knows if the website is engaging in fraudulent fundraising? Relying solely on the website's claims or a few pictures to donate money or goods isn't very reliable."
In response to the doubts raised by netizens regarding "lack of transparency in the use of donations" and "unclear identities of fundraisers," Xu Lina's husband, Duan Fei, responded: "We swore an oath to heaven, vowing never to touch a single cent of the donations. The website only serves as a platform to facilitate connections between those in need and donors, without directly handling any financial transactions. All donated funds are used to help others, and every detail of the donations and their destinations are published on the Gratitude Network."
Duan Fei, originally from a poor area in Chengde, Hebei Province, shared a similar life experience with Xu Lina: born into a humble background and completing his education with the support of kind-hearted people.
Duan Fei strongly supported Xu Lina's choice, and together they operated the website, finding spiritual encouragement and moving experiences in the process of helping others.
However, behind the seemingly "prosperous" facade of "China Gratitude Network" lay painful persistence. As the website's traffic increased, so did the number of people seeking help, along with the associated costs. Monthly expenses for rent, activity funds, website maintenance, and employee salaries amounted to at least 10,000 yuan. Meanwhile, Xu Lina and her husband devoted themselves full-time to "China Gratitude Network," with their sole source of income being part-time web page design and technical support for some small companies, which was highly unstable.
Deep down, Duan Fei felt guilty towards his wife. On December 18, 2009, at noon, after obtaining their marriage certificate from the Civil Affairs Bureau, they didn't hold a ceremony or take wedding photos. Instead, they ate two bowls of three-yuan beef noodles by the roadside and returned to the office to continue working in the afternoon. Due to the heavy workload and high operating costs of the website, the couple lived frugally and even dared not have children.
"When organizing fundraising activities, basic expenses such as transportation fees and communication fees were borne by us. After conducting several large-scale fundraising activities in recent years, our family has accumulated debts exceeding ten thousand yuan." To sustain the daily operation of the website, the couple applied to some companies for jobs but were rejected one after another because they were involved in charity websites.
Caught in a difficult situation with no way out, Xu Lina and her husband were forced to announce the closure of the website on June 30, 2011. "I always regarded the Gratitude Network as my child. It's not just a few letters, nor merely a website; it's a well-rounded child. I failed to take good care of her, and I feel that I let her down," Xu Lina said sorrowfully about the impending closure of the website.
(Response Link) A Twist Appears, Issues Remain
On the 28th, the reporter learned first-hand that the "China Gratitude Network," which was about to shut down, experienced a turnaround. Due to continuous attention and enthusiastic support from netizens advocating for the continuation of this "grassroots charity website," it drew widespread attention. A private college, Shijiazhuang Computer Vocational College, decided to provide comprehensive support for "China Gratitude Network."
It was learned that this school would cover all the expenses for "China Gratitude Network" to conduct charity activities and provide an office space and a minivan for rural outreach. Xu Lina and Duan Fei would not only continue to be responsible for the daily operation of the website and the development of activities but would also be hired as part-time teachers to teach gratitude education. The school plans to utilize the "China Gratitude Network" platform to encourage teachers and students to serve as volunteers and participate in public welfare activities.
"With economic support, personal actions have turned into organizational actions. We will continue to operate the website with greater enthusiasm," Duan Fei said. They have been approved by the school and are currently planning to recruit 50 orphaned high school graduates nationwide to study for free at Shijiazhuang Computer Vocational College.
Although the crisis for "China Gratitude Network" has been temporarily resolved, many issues concerning the development of grassroots charity websites remain.
"Why do domestic grassroots charity organizations have such short lifespans?" "Is private fundraising legal?" In response to doubts raised by netizens like "In Shui Yi Fang," Deputy Researcher Wang Feng of the Hebei Academy of Social Sciences believes that doing charitable work requires much more than just passion.
"Many grassroots charity initiatives fail mainly because they lack the ability to generate their own resources and rely solely on external 'blood transfusions.' Although charity is not the exclusive domain of the rich and anyone can participate, it does require a certain level of economic strength as support," Wang Feng said.
"China Web Story" reporters found that according to China's "Charitable Donation Law," only "public welfare social organizations" and "public welfare non-profit institutions" can legally accept donations. However, most online fundraising activities are conducted under the names of individuals, families, or volunteers, without obtaining legitimate donation subject qualifications. These are considered "non-regular armies" without proper certification, making it difficult for them to sustain and forcing them to eventually stop their operations.
Nevertheless, some netizens believe that grassroots charity fundraising activities gaining traction in society demonstrate the rationality of this form of charity in China and highlight certain deficiencies in mainstream society's approach to charity and public welfare.
"Grassroots charity websites should not be left to survive or perish on their own. They could be integrated into mainstream websites or under the jurisdiction of civil affairs departments for support," said Sina Weibo user "Jason."
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