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 Milestone
In
April 1996, some of our key members learned about legal aid system
for their first time, realized they could help the poor people by
their professional knowledge and ran several test-drive.
In
July 1996, a research on Shanghai legal aid situation was conducted.
And thereafter the research paper thereof was highly praised by
the Judicial Department of Shanghai Municipal Government and referred
to as the basic data and structures for the current legal aid system
in Shanghai, China.
The
Student Legal Aid Center, China's first student-run legal aid center
was going to be established in October 1996 and went into operation
in 1997. The center consists in serving the society. Its substantial
work wins respects from the society.
At
the very beginning even under construction, the Student Legal Aid
Center built up relationship with the Ford Foundation. Some of our
key members participated in the Colloquium on Legal Aid by Undergraduates
and Graduate Students held by the Ford Foundation in Wuhan University
in May 1997.
The
Student Legal Aid Center has been providing legal aid for the underprivileged
people and representing them in litigation. In the four years from
October 1996 to September 2000, approximately 3,000.00 persons were
benefited by such legal services.
Some
former leaders and founders of the Student Legal Aid Center keep
in touch with the center and have been serving in the center as
volunteers after their graduation. They initiated our community
as well.
In
August 2000, Grassroots Community - Youth Community Service Volunteer
Station (formerly known as Our Community) was set up after a long-term
preparation.
In
August 2000, some key members of Grassroots Community and the Students
Legal Aid Center got together in the Meifeng Teahouse in Handan
Road and discussed on the plan of the Wuliqiao (Slum) Project.
In
September 2000, the Wuliqiao (Slum) Project commenced upon the agreement
on cooperation intend with the Slum Residents' Committee of Wuliqiao
Community in Luwan District.
On
November 12, 2000, the first tea party was held in Qingten Teahouse
in Taiyuan Road. Nine members of our community and youths interested
participated. Thereafter gatherings for discussing on social issues,
exchanging information, making friends and recruiting volunteers
and sponsors have been held periodically.
Our
community serves in the office in the Slum Residents' Commission
on November 19, 2000 for the first time and every weekend thereafter.
On
December 8, 2000, our community accepted a donation of RMB10, 000.00(or
US$1,220.40) from Zhengxin Consultant Company and a donation of
RMB2, 000.00(or US$244.08) from Mr. Jiangang Zhu. Our community
standardized its financial management system.
In
February 2001, our community decided the name of "Youth Community
Service Volunteer Station" should be used as the name of our
community, which was in charge of not only the Wuliqiao (Slum) Project
but also Tea Party, the Website and other activities. Grassroots
Community reaffirmed that it was not a part of the Student Legal
Aid Center. Though some ideals of our community and the center are
the same, they are independent from and cooperator of each other.
On
May 7, 2001, Grassroots Community entered into a cooperation agreement
with the Attorney without Borders. Our community has been enhancing
its relationship with foreign nongovernmental organizations from
its beginning.
On
May 31, 2001, with the move of the residents of the slum, our community
completed the Wuliqiao (Slum) Project. Several key members of our
community visited the Xinxin Residents' Commission and Xinxinlu
710 Lane Residents' Commission and began to plan the new project
- Zhijiangxilu Project.
On
June 17, 2001, Grassroots Community entered into an agreement with
the United Commission of the Party and the Labor Union in Zhijiangxilu
Community to arrange the Education Project on Workers' Rights Protection
and Legal Aid Project in the community.
On
June 25, 2001, our key members stated the investigation of the whole
community. Our community, the United Commission of the Party and
the Labor Union in Zhijiangxilu Community and related Resident's
Commissions made a timesheet and arranged the office for our services
in the community.
 On
July 1, 2001, the Huzhou Meeting was held. Our members agreed that
the name of the community was Our Community and its mission is to
provide public services in connection with law, medicine, and environmental
protection and so on.
On
July 7, 2001, the Zhijiangxilu Project commenced.
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