Great Love of the Great Doctor: Zhang Xingru’s Philosophy of Philanthropy (V)

【专栏】| Conlumists >微公益 | MicroCharity

For Sale

By Yibai, Jointing.Media, in Shanghai, 2011-01-25

To maximize utility, it is enough to do public welfare in your spare time

Everyone do their own work and use their skill to do something in spare time. It is the embodiment of their own value. Fame and profit should not be considered together, or it will easily cause problems. People have to consciously reduce these temptations and mistakes.

——Zhang Xingru

People in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou usually have a lot of pressure from work and life, so many people use their annual leave to travel around the world and enjoy life. But the members of GMX are “put their finger in the fire”. Ming Qing, a BiMBA student, wrote an article in the alumni magazine, recalling her experience of the GMX in Gannan, Gansu Province in 2009:

Doctors and nurses are the main force of our team, they not only have to overcome altitude sickness and difficult environment, but also have to carry out high-intensity surgery under harsh working environment… On August 2 and 3, every day from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., lunch and dinner were sent to the operating room and doctors and nurses can only grab a few bites of food between operations.

At 8:00 p.m. on August 3, after the 46th operation of the day, The doctors’ health soon wore out.   Wang Meifen has gone out to vomit twice；Director Zhang Weiying did not finish an operation, she ran out to breathe oxygen for three minutes；Li Qingsong ate 5 pieces of painkiller a day.   But there are seven other patients out there who have been waiting all day.  How shall we do?   Dean Zhang Xingru and Director Xu Fang looked at each other, and then decide: Let’s go on.   The operation lasted until 12:00 at night…

Yu Junjie, the equipment support engineer of GMX, stood during the three days of surgery, day and night, and no one replaced him. At the end of the first day, his right hand was red and swollen, and Wang Meifen analyzed that it was burned when he was pasteurized because the time is tight.

She also wrote:

I love GMX- this three characters. Every year, I personally came to the scene and deeply understand that：there are always some things in life let us see the future hope; There must be some evil people to make us believe that human nature is still good; There must always be some places that let us know that the world is still beautiful as always.

Ming Qing followed GMX for three consecutive years.

Everyone can contribute to public welfare projects in their spare time

“Go once a year for one week at a time” – this is the cycle and duration of the Illuminati action.

Zhang said, “We all use our vacation to participate in GMX. The reason why we will choose this time to go is also because this time everyone’s work is a little idle, the children are on summer vacation, and the responsibilities at home are less. And it’s relatively safe in the summer.”

Some entrepreneurs become successful in business and devote themselves full-time to philanthropy. Zhang Xingru’s view of such behavior is: “This practice is great from the spiritual level, but does it play the maximum value of the individual? If he had stayed in business, he might have been of greater value to society.”

His view is that it is more valuable to do what you do best and contribute to the public good.

Everyone do their own work and use their skill to do something in spare time. It is the embodiment of their own value. Zhang Xingru believes that enterprises growth too quickly after the reform and opening up without deposition process. The accumulation of corporate wealth needs to give back to society. Although there are differences in individual ability, there is no difference between high and low rank . Everyone can do charity and public welfare, the key is to find their own points to realize personal value.

“Don’t need to do it with a bang. Do it quietly. Do what you are best at and contribute a skill to society. Stick to your position, and do the easy thing in your spare time, which may be more suitable for most people,” Zhang Xingru said.

GMX is only once a year but the preparation period is relatively long. From planning to implementation, from medical treatment to logistics, communication and coordination are the most important tasks. The selection of team member is a laborious task. Zhang Xingru said: “We will set up a contact person every year, two to three hundred phone calls during this process. It takes a lot of phone calls to go or not,  back and forth, It takes a lot of time.”

Stay away from fame and fortune, reduce mistakes

GMX does not cost the local government any money, and the players are not paid for their work. GMX is rarely reported in the media. JM will not know which companies have donated and participated in if JM do not read their internal publications. Zhang Xingru said that the entrepreneurs who participate in are very good, their companies do not need publicity, and GMX basically does not do publicity. Only members who participate in wrote articles on their own blogs, expressing their personal feelings, for internal communication and to recall in old age.

An enterprise evaluation of GMX: “You do this kind of thing is very real, there is no thought of fame and wealth.”

“Fame and profit cannot be combined, and it is easy to have problems when combined.” Reduce these temptations and mistakes. If something goes wrong once, it will be difficult for others to follow you. “From the bottom of my heart, we want to do something for the marginal poor areas. It is not for good karma but to use own skills, find like-minded people to do something together “,

Many GMX’s members have participated in more than once and donated many years. Dr. Xia Youliang followed GMX for three consecutive years. Zhang Ping, a corporate volunteer in Jinan, Shandong province, told Dean Zhang:”If you do it this way, I will follow you.”

Zhang Xingru quoted a text message from a friend:

With a Buddha in mind, act like a Buddha.

Today there is a Buddha, tomorrow there will be no Buddha.

Cultivate often and happy near.

“Cultivate often and happy near”,GMX has become a way of self-cultivation. The Best way is Simple, the Great Doctor has Great Love

(The end)

中文原文

Translated by Youdao Translate

Edited by Wind

Yifan Ding also contributed to this article.

Ralated:

Great Love of the Great Doctor (IV)

Great Love of the Great Doctor (Ⅲ)

Great Love of the Great Doctor (Ⅱ)

Great Love of the Great Doctor (Ⅰ)

Great Love of the Great Doctor: Zhang Xingru’s Philosophy of Philanthropy (IV)

【专栏】| Conlumists >微公益 | MicroCharity

For Sale

By Yibai, Jointing.Media, in Shanghai, 2011-01-10

Success Lies In People,
Letting More People See Themselves Is Also A Kind Of Public Welfare.

“We believe that people participating in GMX is the greatest support.Any problem that can be solved with money is not a big problem.”

——Zhang Xingru

“It’s not just brightness, it’s hope.”

“A little girl in Tibet went blind because of her inverted eyelashes. The locals didn’t know it could be treated and believed that seeing a doctor wouldn’t help. But we went there and helped some people regain their sight, so that they would know this disease can be cured,” said a member of the GMX team.

A certain issue of the BiMBA alumni magazine featured the “GMX 2009″ as its cover story. Volunteer Liu Sizhuang, who participated in this event, wrote an article for the same issue:

“When patients rush in for treatment regardless of obstacles, when they walk unsteadily in and out of the ward, when they receive medication with gratitude in dialects we cannot understand despite being unable to undergo surgery, I feel that what they see is not only brightness, but also hope. If it’s not their turn this time, there will be next time, and as one problem is solved, other problems are not far from being resolved.”

Zhang Xingru hopes to achieve excellent results for cataract patients with the best doctors, equipment, and materials. He said, “Some people suggest buying cheaper materials to treat more patients, but our philosophy is that patients in remote and impoverished areas need to use the ‘best’. They do not have a second chance, and this opportunity is not only for themselves but also for the hope of others – if other patients see them being cured, they will have hope of being cured as well. If it is done poorly, others will think ‘oh, it’s still like this’. This will erase the hope of others.”

It is understood that GMX selects imported international brands of high-quality folding intraocular lens, and adopts the most advanced phacoemulsification cataract extraction intraocular lens implantation. The doctors who participate in GMX are experienced chief physicians and professor experts.

Activity is contagious

Most of volunteers of GMX are middle and senior managers and decision makers in enterprises, and Zhang Xingru believes that this “donation + experience” model can cultivate a sense of social responsibility in the management of enterprises participating in GMX. “There are a lot of things that you can’t feel until you see them. We feel that being there is the biggest support for GMX. Problems that can be solved with money are not big problems,” he said.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, a famous American philosopher, said that Activity is contagious. The social value orientation of an enterprise is mainly determined by the decision-makers and managers, and Zhang Xingru chooses to influence them, so that more people can see and feel, and then inspire them to act. He believes that entrepreneurs should care more about their employees and customers than shareholders, and fulfil their corporate social responsibility.

“We are not against eating delicacies, [not] asking [entrepreneurs] to donate all this money… There are a lot of upper classes who don’t see the real bottom of society. Many Tibetans are still hungry and barefoot, but many of them do not want money. How can we help them? When entrepreneurs saw that many people were living in extreme poverty, it was a big shock to them. Our model is better suited to our national conditions. (Doing charity for the public good in this way) is easier, comes from the heart, and is a combination of charity and public good.”

Zhang Xingru and the members of GMX often talk about GMX in their respective circles and talk about their personal feelings of participating in GMX, so the publicity of it is also spread from the dinner table.

“To live, one must have a little pursuit. To be able to do something that interests you and is beneficial to others, without hurting others, is also a pursuit. People are sometimes lonely, fickle or calm. There are not many days when man is truly peaceful and happy. But one thing ignited his hope-GMX is only once a year, but many people concerned. Caring is actually kindling people’s good hearts.”

Zhang Xingru, turned 50, admitted that GMX has taken up a lot of his free time. At first, his family was puzzled as to why he was “obsessed” with this nameless, unprofitable and thankless activity. But now his family, colleagues and leaders understand him very well.

“They think this thing is really effective. Besides, it’s not about time but what you do. For example, if you go to play mahjong, your family will be unhappy. But if you do public service and charity, your family will support you. Do valuable things to guide the family, infect them. Let them feel the value of doing public welfare.”

For businesses to see, for doctors to see, for patients to see, for people who read about them to see.Being seen bring hope. GMX care more about one’s own strength, and doing well is a social improvement.

(To be continued)

中文原文

Translated by MirrorChat and Youdao Translate

Edited by Wind

Yifan Ding also contributed to this article.

Ralated:

Great Love of the Great Doctor (Ⅲ)

Great Love of the Great Doctor (Ⅱ)

Great Love of the Great Doctor (Ⅰ)

Great Love of the Great Doctor: Zhang Xingru’s Philosophy of Philanthropy (Ⅲ)

【专栏】| Conlumists >微公益 | MicroCharity

For Sale

By Yibai, Jointing.Media, in Shanghai, 2010-12-16

Governing by doing nothing that goes against nature
“No organization, but with discipline”

We will not establish a foundation. Once established, it requires dedicated personnel to manage operations, which increases costs and consumes many social resources…We all work on GMX in our spare time, and no one is full-time. Moreover, all core members are all fluid. When one event is over, that’s it (a collective decision to do it next year). We are “unorganized but disciplined” — unorganized, unrestrained.

——Zhang Xingru

The first GMX in 2006 was initiated by Zhang Xingru, Yang Yongxiao, Ms. Jinglian, and Xu Yan. Many people shed tears in Zuoqin Township. Zhang Xingru said that at the time, GMX team encountered a young child in the snow. His shoes were worn out and his toes were rotten from the cold. When asked why he didn’t wear a better pair of shoes, the child answered:”No money for them.” It was the first time for all of us in Xinjiang, almost no one didn’t shed tears.

“The harsh living conditions faced by our comrades in the Tibetan region that we witnessed with our own eyes have left the members of the GMX team heartbroken. The happiness of those who regain their sight and the hope of a new start provide the team members with a sense of purpose. However, merely relying on emotions is not enough.”

Not Being a Foundation, Loose but not Dispersed

After the trip to Zuoqin, the members of GMX reflected and decided to continue the project long-term, creating a four-stop plan: foot of Tian Shan Mountains, old revolutionary base areas, Mongolian grasslands, and Yunnan frontier. This led to the GMX of Qinghe in Xinjiang in 2008, the GMX of Gannan in 2009, and the GMX of  Grassland in 2010. With the initial plan nearing completion, they will plan six more stops for the future.

Since GMX is to be a long-term work, why not set up a special foundation? Zhang Xingru answered:” We will not establish a foundation. Once established, it requires dedicated personnel to manage operations, which increases costs and consumes many social resources. Some people have calculated that when you donate 10 yuan, only 3 to 5 yuan may actually be used for the intended beneficiaries, with the rest being worn away in the process. We want a more convenient operation where funds can be directly utilized without going through more intermediate links.”

“We all work on GMX in our spare time, and no one is full-time. Moreover, all core members are all fluid. When one event is over, that’s it (a collective decision to do it next year).” Zhang Xingru said.

“I trust GMX a lot. Its operation is very transparent, and everyone can clearly see their position and value in the entire process,” said Liu Tao, manager of Bausch & Lomb China who has participated in GMX.

GMX is an intangible organizational entity with strict institutional procedures for action. They manage projects using a “budgeting before final accounting” approach, setting action goals, such as performing a certain number of cataract surgeries, before budgeting and fundraising. After the action is completed, they conduct accounting and publish expense lists to participating parties. The focus is on creating projects first and then procuring funds accordingly.

Who will manage the money? Faced with this sensitive question, Zhang Xingru bluntly said: “As the main organizer, the management of money must be handled by someone who has no connection with me.” It is understood that  the money of last year’s GMX was managed by a volunteer named Qu Fei from a Shanghai company, which was one of the donors to last year’s GMX. A deputy director of the Shanghai Audit Bureau participated in GMX of this year as a volunteer and donor to “supervise” the financial transparency of the event.

Charity and social enterprises require a high degree of professionalism. Professionalism ensures the effectiveness of actions, which is related to the management capability of core members. GMX’s “strict system” mainly manifests in democratic decision-making and personnel selection; “transparency” is reflected in fundraising and the use of funds and materials, with the separation of operations and decisions. The supervisory mechanism plays an important role.

As Zhang Xingru pointed out, GMX does not have a formal organizational structure, but still operates with a sense of order and adherence to rules or guidelines.

Before Managing the Project, Manage the People First

Every year after the Spring Festival, GMX initiates project preparation and decide the departure time. The selection process for medical volunteers with fixed schedules takes priority, followed by enterprise volunteers. Due to variations in enterprise volunteer availability, the final list is confirmed only two weeks before departure. The roster is not changed once it is confirmed, but substitutes are assigned to each position.

The principle for GMX to select team members every year is to blend old and new members equally. Old members are familiar with the environment and work processes, and can guide new members to ensure medical accuracy. “In the past, when the scale was small, we could manage every aspect. But now that the scale has grown, it’s impossible to manage every aspect. And only after updating the team can it last. People’s passion is limited. Expanding access to opportunities can allow more people to showcase their kindness.” Zhang Xingru said.

There are many doctors applying to participate in GMX, but GMX has its own selection criteria. “We need to have a complete understanding of this doctor, otherwise the marginal cost will be very high. If you don’t understand his surgical skills, should he work as a doctor or as a volunteer or assistant? If he has a high reputation but poor actual ability, who will be responsible if something goes wrong?” As the captain of GMX, Zhang Xingru will also allocate team members according to the project, such as the ratio of new and old team members, the industry background of team members, and the resources available to each member.

“In 2008, GXM faced difficulties in medical equipment transportation, and Zhang Xingru pondered, ‘Next time we must bring in a team member with an aviation company background.’ In 2009, Ye Shenglan, a volunteer from Eastern Airlines joined the GXM team. He advocated for expanding the range of industries represented in the team and encouraging people from all professions to participate.”

The analysis of past data shows that the most economical and safest team structure is to limit the number of doctors and volunteers to 45 or less.There are now more than 200 potential volunteers.

Quality Control：Training and Backup

Each position at GMX has a job description. Volunteers are assigned to different teams based on their personal interests and expertise, and receive specialized training before deployment. “Volunteers must be trained. These volunteers who hold high positions in companies or units will be doing very basic work in GMX, such as simply assisting patients and helping doctors prepare for surgery,” Zhang Xingru said.

Hu Dayuan, a professor at Peking University, volunteered in the GMX in 2009, distributing eye drops to patients. In 2010, he was “promoted” to the ward and responsible for preoperative eye cleansing for patients. And Liu Chang, daughter of New Hope Group Chairman Liu Yonghao, was responsible for assisting patients.

Volunteers assisted doctors throughout the operation by registering patients, checking their vision, arranging patients, sterilizing, removing gauze, and distributing medicine. These auxiliary medical tasks do not require a long time of training to reach the standard. However, organizing and coordinating the work requires more management skills. Zhang Xingru’s approach is to fully authorize volunteers once they are assigned to a position, supervise them at any time, track progress, and prepare contingency plans.

“The equipment we move over each year is worth millions, for example, equipment that has been borrowed but malfunctions. There is always a contingency plan in place for critical positions.”

“For timing milestones and material gathering, it’s important to have a buffer of extra time and space. However, there are few things that need remedying because the members of GMX have strong sense of responsibility and execution ability.”

In usual circumstances, corporate executives and decision-makers who hold high positions are accustomed to being commanders. However, in GMX, they inevitably express their own opinions, especially since the company has donated money as a sponsor. Zhang Xingru said that this phenomenon did exist at the beginning, but later everyone reached a consensus on speaking rights: corporate volunteers leveraged their strengths to make suggestions and share management experience on project operations, while medical professionals had the final say on professional matters.

Although doctors and corporate volunteers have their respective roles, the overall direction of action is decided collectively. After each GMX ends, the members will hold a summary meeting to share their experiences and feelings, take turns to criticize, praise, and suggest. The main idea is “What should we do at the next stop? Where should we prepare to go?” The result of the meeting is always “keep moving forward.” Then everyone draws a circle to determine the general direction and confirms the details in specific operations.

“GMX is not a personal matter, it is a collective matter. Team communication and integration are not easy, I want to be inclusive of others,” said Zhang Xingru. He has always wanted to reduce his personal influence on GMX.

Most grassroots and spontaneous public welfare actions rely on the founder’s own influence and network to build a platform. Without a founder who possesses both appeal and inclusiveness, how can resources from different fields and partners with diverse personalities be gathered to accomplish the same vision?

(To be continued)

中文原文

Translated by MirrorChat and Youdao Translate

Edited by Wind

Yifan Ding also contributed to this article.

Ralated:

Great Love of the Great Doctor: Zhang Xingru’s Philosophy of Philanthropy (Ⅱ)

【专栏】| Conlumists >微公益 | MicroCharity

For Sale

By Yibai, Jointing.Media, in Shanghai, 2010-11-26

Steady and long,
knock open the door of kindness

“The cultivation and release of love is a process. And human kindness is not always present. Human nature has a selfish side and a kind side. We need to knock on the door of kindness and let love break free. Let there be more light and less darkness.”

——Zhang Xingru

Money Is Not a Problem?No!

It is understood that the cost of a GMX activity is about two to three hundred thousand yuan， including the freight of medical equipment needed for surgery and the cost of medical supplies. An enterprise once wanted to donate ten thousand yuan to GMX, but was persuaded to lower the amount. A foundation also proposed that this project aligned with their funding direction and offered a fixed budget, but GMX declined the offer.

“If one enterprise donates to the whole campaign, other enterprises won’t have a chance to express their kindness. If more people participate in each campaign, social value is greater. However, if the foundation provides full funding, it blocks the way for volunteers and enterprises to donate money. If they doesn’t donate money, they won’t go.” Zhang Xingru explained.

He added another layer of social significance to GMX, namely, corporate social responsibility（CSR）enlightenment action. “The enterprises not only need to donate money but also need to put in effort – actively participate in the activities and express their love directly through personal experience.”

In his opinion, the current public welfare system in China is not yet perfect, and the donation by enterprises and individuals has not been put into practical use. Some Chinese people prefer to burn incense in temples rather than donate ten yuan to poor and out-of-school children. In addition, with more and more negative reports about some NGOs, people’s enthusiasm for public welfare is dampened.This is like a blocked water source that will not be demonstrated in the future, and the enthusiasm will be wasted.

“The cultivation and release of kindness is a process. It’s not possible to have a very high level of kindness all at once. Kindness is not always present, as human nature has two sides: selfish and kind. We need to knock on the door of kindness and let our hearts be unleashed. Let there be more bright and less dark.”

To Believe That A Single Spark Can Start A Prairie Fire

Zhang Xingru’s philanthropic beliefs are related to his personal growth experience. In the late 1970s, he was a college student and first came into contact with “philanthropy”. In his impression, companies did some philanthropic activities in order to increase their visibility. For example, the corporate sponsorship banners during the “Iron Hammer” era of women’s volleyball matches. After becoming a doctor, he started to participate in free clinics organized by others. Along with participating in multiple similar events, he began to contemplate if he could establish a charitable initiative with innovative value that aligns with China’s national conditions and can be replicated. He envisions that doctors from all disciplines can also go to impoverished areas on the periphery to provide free medical services with entrepreneur funding.

“We are currently exploring this path. If some person integrates some resources, they can all participate in charity and public welfare work, which can be big or small. For example, a dentist and an entrepreneur could team up to provide dental care and education for people with poor oral health in remote areas. The entrepreneur has the funds and compassion, while the dentist has the skills. By combining their expertise and resources, they can accomplish concrete results.

“Small sparks can start a prairie fire.” Zhang Xingru hopes to popularize the GMX model. Each discipline can form a medical team and join forces with some entrepreneurs or philanthropists who have both compassion and financial resources to form a volunteer team and provide medical services in remote areas for the elderly and children in need.

“We are definitely going to very remote and impoverished areas, and they are mostly minority areas,” Zhang Xingru repeatedly emphasized their direction. He explained, “Large (medical charity) organizations generally find it difficult to reach such places. They have to locate management teams and contact local governments to penetrate these areas, which takes a lot of effort, and may not necessarily achieve excellent results in the end.”

Sometimes kindness can also lead to bad results. If mistakes are made, it will hurt many people’s hearts and erase kindness. Kindness should be turned into good deeds, and good deeds must be done well. This requires the leaders of public welfare actions to not only have the ability but also wisdom.

The leaders of charity and public welfare activities need to stand taller, look further, and have a broader perspective. Actions speak louder than words, and perseverance is more important than temporary bursts of energy. Persistence is key, and this is also what Zhang Xingru persists in.

(To be continued)

中文原文

Translated by MirrorChat and Youdao Translate

Edited by Wind

Yifan Ding also contributed to this article.

Ralated:

Great Love of the Great Doctor: Zhang Xingru’s Philosophy of Philanthropy (Ⅰ)

【专栏】| Conlumists >微公益 | MicroCharity

For Sale

By Yibai, Jointing.Media, in Shanghai, 2010-08-28

From July 16th to 24th, 2010, the “Charity Brightness Tour” successfully completed its fourth stop – the “Prairie Brightness Tour.” Since its inception in 2006, more than four years have passed in silence. The team members of the Brightness Tour raised funds on their own and used their spare time and professional expertise to explore a new path of public welfare. What attracted them to this point? What is the significance and contribution of their practice to themselves and society? Professor Zhang Xingru, the initiator of the Brightness Tour and vice president of the affiliated Putuo Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, gave his first interview, sharing his insights on their practice of public welfare.

Study the nature of things,
Act according to one’s ability,
Find joy in doing public welfare

“Has donating money achieved the original intention of everyone participating in public welfare? It is easier to succeed by using one’s own skills and integrating social resources, and it is more valuable to oneself. Through one’s own labor, Brightness Action brings light to others, and this is the philosophy that we follow.”

——Zhang Xingru

First Brightness Action, 13 and 18

In January 2006, 13 people and 4 cars, carrying over 270 types of medical equipment, completed 18 eye surgeries on temporary operating tables made of local wooden boards at an altitude of over 4,000 meters on the snowy plateau. This was the first expedition of the Brightness Action(Cishan Guangming Xing, which means “bring light”), a philanthropy program that restores sight through cataract surgery (hereinafter referred to as “GMX”).

It sounds like the journey was quite an adventure, with the team of 13 medical professionals and volunteers traveling from various locations such as Beijing, Shanghai, and the United States to converge in Chengdu, Sichuan. They then embarked on a three-day journey by car, crossing the Dadu River, the Jinsha River, the Erlang Mountain, and the Zheduo Mountain, which is over 5,000 meters high, and approaching the 7,000-meter-high Que’er Mountain. Along the way, they encountered mudslides and heavy snowstorms, which must have been quite challenging. As the team leader, Zhang Xingru was understandably concerned about everyone’s safety, but they eventually arrived safely.

Looking back on this trip, Zhang Xingru still remembers it vividly. “Thirteen of us (ophthalmologists and volunteers) came from Beijing, Shanghai, the United States, and other places to converge in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Then we took a car for more than three days. We crossed the Dadu River, the Jinsha River, the Erlang Mountain, and the Zheduo Mountain, which is over 5,000 meters high, and approached the Que’er Mountain, which is over 7,000 meters high. At that time, we also encountered mudslides and heavy snowstorms. I’m the leader of the medical team, with the doctors from our hospital, and very worried about everyone’s safety. We were jolted all the way and frightened, but we finally arrived safely.”

Zuoqin Township in Dege County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, is located at the junction of Tibet, Sichuan, and Qinghai provinces, at an altitude of over 4,000 meters. The intense ultraviolet radiation on the plateau in this Tibetan region has led to a high incidence of cataracts among the local population. GMX’s team members were mentally prepared for the difficult environment, but the medical conditions were still unexpected, so they had to redesign the surgical plan.

“We arrived after a four-month drought, and it rained heavily for a day and night. The locals said we brought a good rain after a long drought. But the heavy rain destroyed the hospital’s power system. The operation was delayed a day and carried out from morning until midnight without air conditioning in 40-degree temperatures. Sometimes the machines began to malfunction due to overheating. At that time, I just thought that as long as there was a rainproof house, it would be fine. We brought our own medical equipment and the bed was made of local wooden planks,” Zhang Xingru recalled.

The original plan was to perform 10 surgeries, but due to an increasing number of patients who came after hearing about it, GMX ended up completing 18 surgeries, including 7 local monks.

According to statistics, 108 Tibetan eye disease patients received free medical treatment, all 15 cataract surgeries and 3 ophthalmic surgeries were successful in the first GMX charity project. When they saw the patients open their eyes and see after the surgery, the GMX team members were moved to tears.

“We have also gained valuable experience in conducting cataract surgery under difficult conditions,” Zhang xinru said.

Happiness Driver

Zhang Xingru undertakes a lot of hospital management work as vice president of the hospital. Meanwhile he is the organizer and team core of GMX as co-founder. GMX project, once-a-year voluntary action, is a part-time job for him. Just organizing and coordinating would eat up three months of his spare time. He sacrificed a lot of time with his family. But his family not only supported him in running the project, but his children really wanted to be part of it in the end.

He said, “Although participating in such voluntary activities is very educational for her, I cannot let her go. If everyone brings their children, it will affect the seriousness of this action.” Voluntary action is not entertainment, it is a job, and a serious one at that. This is Zhang Xingru’s opinion.

Yin Jianhong, a volunteer who participated in GMX’s trip to Gannan in 2009, wrote in an internal publication of GMX that the hardest person is Dean Zhang Xingru. From planning to implementation, from medical services to logistics, he is meticulous and conscientious, a role model.

Talking about a lot of effort and dedication for voluntary action, Zhang Xingru believes that the greatest reward is happiness. He said that through such a platform of GMX, he has met like-minded friends from different fields, and everyone can see the joy brought by their small voluntary actions while practicing public welfare, and see the value of their actions.

Doctor Jiawancheng said: “As doctors, we often move others, but we don’t have many opportunities to be moved ourselves. However, GMX gave us the opportunity to be moved.”

As the old saying goes: A single hand cannot make a sound, one log cannot prop up a building. The main team members of GMX are aged 35-50, and they are the backbone of society and the pillars of their respective families. They reshape their social value through GMX. Every year, when the selection for GMX team members is approaching, people constantly ask Zhang Xingruo: “Dean Zhang, when are we going again this year?” GMX has become a spiritual sanctuary for many people. Being needed by others brings happiness.

Doing What We Can

“It’s very satisfying to do public welfare within one’s capability, and everyone is very happy doing it.” Zhang Xingruo said. Some wealthy people donated some money, others provided free labor, and those with specialized skills contribute their expertise. He advocates that it is more valuable for technically skilled people to contribute to public welfare by doing what they are best at.

“Did the donating money achieve its original intention? It is easier for us to be successful and valuable to ourselves by integrating the resources of society with our own skills. We bring light to others through our own work. We do it through this idea.”Zhang Xingruo said.

All equipment, consumables, patient diagnosis and surgical fees, as well as living expenses for each activity are self-funded by GMX members. Most of the funding comes from donations by volunteers, ie., students in Peking University’s EMBA program. Professional doctors are sourced from top-tier hospitals in Beijing and Shanghai.

Zhang Xingruo emphasize the importance of knowing your limitations and controlling the number of volunteers and surgeries per session. He said that although there are many patients and demands, we must also work within our limits to ensure the quality of surgery. Knowing what you cannot do is essential to focus on doing what you excel in. It’s not necessary to do things with great fanfare, rather, do them quietly and humbly.

Study the nature of things and act according to one’s ability, this is the tone Zhang Xingruo set for the GMX.

(To be continued)

中文原文

Translated by MirrorChat and Youdao Translate

Edited by Wind

Yifan Ding also contributed to this article.

Ralated:

Great Love of the Great Doctor (Ⅱ)

Great Love of the Great Doctor (Ⅲ)

Great Love of the Great Doctor (IV)

Great Love of the Great Doctor (V)