Despite their differences in nationalities, skin colors, and occupations, they share the same vision.

In Shunyi District, Beijing, foreign residents have joined the fight against COVID-19.

A number of foreign residents participate in community-based epidemic prevention and control in Xiangmiwan Community, Konggang Sub-district, Shunyi District.

A foreign volunteer displays a “Stay strong, China!” banner to express support for China in the fight against COVID-19.

“This is my home, and I should do something when it is at a difficult time,” said Maria, a Bolivian resident who has been living in Beijing for ten years, when she was asked about the reasons for working as a volunteer in the fight against COVID-19.

Now, Maria often comes to an epidemic control and prevention station set up in Xiangmiwan Community, Konggang Sub-district, Shunyi District, holding an infrared thermometer to measure the temperature of the residents. Despite the mask, a big smile could still be detected on her face.

Maria shows her volunteer card. She hopes that the epidemic would end soon so she would not need to wear a mask anymore.

After learning that she could work as a community volunteer to help contain the virus, Maria immediately signed up. As a medical worker who can speak Chinese, Spanish, and English, she played a big role in raising health awareness of Chinese and foreign residents and proofreading multilingual epidemic prevention and control posters. 

Canadian volunteer Lorin Ledger (left) and his Ghanaian wife Nana, who is also a volunteer.

International volunteers have been working at epidemic prevention and control stations set up at the entrances of Xiangmiwan Community. Many residents give them thumbs-up when entering or leaving the community.

Maria is not the only foreign national working as a volunteer in Shunyi District. According to Li Xueying, head of the CPC branch in the community, over the past month, more than a dozen foreign residents, from different countries and with different career backgrounds, have joined Chinese community workers in the fight against COVID-19.

On the day we visited the house of Lorraine and Nana, the couple had a hectic morning.

They set up a camera, took out a carefully prepared picture book, and began to shoot a video for an online English course.

They were shooting a video for an online English course for kids in the community.

Lorraine is from Canada and Nana is from Ghana. After learning that kids in the community were unable to return to school because of the epidemic, Lorraine, who is a teacher, decided to shoot videos for an online English course for these kids.

After recording the video, the couple also came to help at an epidemic prevention and control station at an entrance of the community, receiving thumbs-up from other residents.

Before going on duty, the couple help each other check whether the mask covers the mouth and nose with a snug fit.

India-born Suresh and his wife Kartica have lived in China for seven years. Kartica loves painting beautiful landscapes in China.

Suresh, an Indian who has been living in China for seven years, is also one of the international volunteers helping with COVID-19 prevention in the community. To the couple, China is their second home. His wife, Kartica, is an artist. Her painting of vibrant landscape in China is the centerpiece in their living room.

Suresh shows us a video, shot by himself, of a well-stocked supermarket.

“When I went shopping in a supermarket, I often shot videos of well-stocked shelves in the market to show my family in India that Beijing is safe and well-supplied and there is no need to worry at all,” Suresh said. There has been much misinformation about COVID-19 in other countries. He will help relatives and friends objectively understand the situation in China by debunking rumors.

Volunteers put up multilingual posters in the community.

Xiangmiwan Community is home to more than 180 foreign residents. There are more than 6,000 foreign residents with permanent residency in Konggang Sub-district, which is located in the core area designated for Shunyi District's international talent community program. Community workers have played an important role in uniting Chinese and foreign residents together in the fight against COVID-19.

Zhang Xu, who speaks both Chinese and English, is a community worker in Xiangmiwan Community. She often stays up very late to answer questions raised by foreign residents in a WeChat group of the community. 

Maria from Bolivia (first from right) and Chinese community workers Li Xueying (second from right) and Zhang Xu, who are on duty together, take a selfie. The community is the home they all share.

Early on February 4, Hewitt, an American living in the community, felt unwell. Hewitt couldn't speak Chinese, and had never seen a doctor in China before. Recalling what he had heard about COVID-19, Hewitt was very nervous. He tried to contact the neighborhood committee.

Zhang Xu, who was informed of the situation Hewitt was in, promptly put on a mask and took Hewitt to hospital after consulting medical staff. It turned out it was just a false alarm, and Hewitt was diagnosed with bronchitis. After Hewitt was discharged from the hospital, workers of the neighborhood committee prepared boiled pear with rock sugar for him. Hewitt was touched by the heartwarming ways Zhang Xu and other community workers had helped him.

Xiangmiwan Community is called Sugarbay by foreign residents. The picture shows the WeChat group of foreign residents in the community. Zhang Xu recruits international volunteers from the group.

After his recovery, Hewitt has no longer felt that he was just a guest here. He has decided to join the community volunteer team and work together with Zhang Xu to contribute to this “home”.

A friend in need is a friend indeed. An act of love could be a gift that transcends borders.

Suresh has been practicing Chinese calligraphy. Before going on duty at the epidemic prevention and control station in the morning, he wrote the words “Stay strong, China” to express his support. Lorin and Nana said they would continue to teach the kids English and get more involved in community work. Maria hopes that the epidemic will end soon. “I am very confident in Beijing. When the epidemic is over, I will go out and embrace the city again,” Maria said.

Volunteers are on duty in the community. No matter where they are from, they work together to fight the virus and safeguard their home.