Recently, volunteers can be found almost everywhere, such as at nucleic acid testing sites, at distribution posts, in the neighborhoods or on the roadside.

These volunteers, coming from all over the world, are shining in the community where they live.

Recently, a reporter from Eastday.com chatted online with 7 expat volunteers about their stories with Shanghai.

Astrid Poghosyan from Armenia came to Shanghai to study in the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and completed her undergraduate and graduate studies here."I’ve devoted my youth to Shanghai," she said.

　　Astrid Poghosyan

"I'm already a Shanghainese!" said Simon Lichtenberg from Denmark.

As a "Shanghai son-in-law", Simon can speak a little Shanghainese.

"At this time, we are all one big family and we are always together. Each of us is working hard," Simon said.

　　Habib-Ur-Rahman (left) and Simon Lichtenberg (right)

When recalling his initial reason for signing up as a volunteer, Habib-Ur-Rahman, a Pakistani expatriate who lives in Hongqiao Sub-district said,"Actually, I didn't know how to use the Health Cloud app at first."

With his own research and the help of others, Habib has been able to use a number of apps related to epidemic prevention and control proficiently by himself.

　　Habib-Ur-Rahman (first from right)

Habib said he has made a lot of friends while volunteering for epidemic prevention and control. He has been in Shanghai for 13 years, and during the epidemic, he has felt more integrated here.

French volunteer Clarisse Le Guernic lives in Ruijin Er Road Sub-district."There are many old houses, many people and many expats here," she said.

When Clarisse was a junior high school student in France, she attended Chinese class at her school. In 2015, Clarisse came to Shanghai to study and fell in love with the city. After that, she chose to stay here. Today, as the founder and CEO of Arcade Experiences Shanghai, a company focused on Shanghai history related outdoor activities, what she wants to do most is to tell the history and culture of China and Shanghai to more people.

　　Clarisse Le Guernic (middle)

Since March, Ruijin Er Road Sub-district has carried out nucleic acid testing."Although the volunteers use loud speakers to call people to go downstairs and do the nucleic acid testing, for foreign residents who do not understand Chinese we have to knock on their doors to explain the situation and remind them to do the nucleic acid testing," Clarisse said. She also assisted the elderly who did not know how to operate their phones to generate an appointment QR code via the Health Cloud app before doing the nucleic acid testing.

Some of these expats have signed up to volunteer under the influence of their families, such as Simon.

He said he had a chance to communicate with other expats frequently in the residential complex."Many people become anxious when they are in closed-loop management for a long time. I always advise them not to keep reading some negative or even untrue news on the Internet, but to get along with their neighbors and family members more in daily life," he said.

"Becoming a volunteer is what I hope, I’ve always felt I belonged here. Shanghai is my second home. So, I also want to do something for the city," said Astrid Poghosyan. When she first arrived in Shanghai, Astrid was deeply impressed by the warmth and friendliness of the Shanghainese.

During the current wave of COVID-19 in Shanghai, she never thought to leave Shanghai."The city is very important to me, and I firmly believe that Shanghai can win the battle of epidemic prevention and control. I want to fight with everyone here,” she said.

Guo Chengyan, from Malaysia, lives in the North Bund Sub-district and has been in Shanghai for 12 years.

　　Guo Chengyan at his post

　　Guo Chengyan (right) and his wife Lin Hui (left)

Stefano Pieriboni from Italy has long been the "star resident" in his residential complex. To secure enough food, some community residents have resorted to online group-buying for groceries and necessities. The group-buying process is usually conducted through a WeChat group. Stefano is the head of his community for group purchases, buying pizza, pasta, Italian meatballs, etc. His love for Italian food has led him to open related group buying groups one after another.

“Last year, I got my foreign permanent residence ID card. I regard Shanghai as my lovely lifelong place to live. When my neighbors call me to start a new group purchase because they like eating Italian food, I'm excited to get my shopping on with group purchasing for my community," he said.

Although they come from different countries, these volunteers have the same wish and goal at this moment: doing their small part for their beloved Shanghai, and wishing that the city can return to normal as soon as possible. Stay strong, Shanghai!