For a long time, the International Charitable Support Organization (ICSO) has remained deeply committed to the growth and development of young volunteers. By actively constructing diverse platforms for public welfare practice, ICSO guides youth to enhance their sense of social responsibility and refine their service capabilities through community engagement, assistance for vulnerable groups, public advocacy, and social initiatives—answering societal needs and spreading warmth through concrete actions.
Within the volunteer team of the ICSO UK Branch, Chen Yichen has consistently participated in various public welfare projects with a deeply responsible attitude. From community assistance to youth mentorship, and from logistics management to environmental advocacy, he integrates his academic background with charitable practice. Through every specific service, he strives to understand the needs of others, shoulder youthful responsibilities, and demonstrate true volunteer commitment. Through steady and solid actions, he proves that public welfare is not merely a slogan, but is realized in the execution of detailed work, the commitment to sincere communication, and the dedication to social responsibility.
Youth Volunteer Profile Biography:
- Name: Chen Yichen
- Education: King’s College London, B.S. in Social Policy and Management
- Affiliation: ICSO UK Branch
01 | Connecting with ICSO: Stepping into Real-World Public Welfare
Chen Yichen’s journey with ICSO began with a recruitment drive for a community public welfare project. Upon arriving in the UK, he was gradually adapting to a new academic rhythm and living environment. By chance, he learned that ICSO was conducting volunteer services for vulnerable community groups, covering logistics sorting, public advocacy, home visits, and child companionship. Initially, he signed up with a mindset of simply exploring and trying something new. However, once he stepped into the project, he gradually realized that public welfare service is not merely “participating in an event once,” but requires steady commitment, earnest coordination, and continuous accountability.
During his first activity, Chen Yichen was assigned to the logistics group, primarily responsible for organizing donated supplies and verifying distribution lists. Clothes needed to be categorized by size, season, and target demographic; food items required expiration date checks; and learning materials had to be inventoried and packaged according to the specific needs of different families. On the day of the event, the number of beneficiary families unexpectedly increased, drastically accelerating the pace of work on-site. Chen Yichen and his team members worked continuously from morning until dusk, grabbing only a quick bite of bread before diving straight back into work. When asked if he was tired, he simply remarked: “Since I chose to participate, I must ensure every task is done properly. We cannot keep those who need help waiting in vain.”
This experience gave him a more concrete understanding of public welfare. Service is not just about standing at the event venue, but about maintaining patience and precision in every seemingly trivial detail. Responsibility is not an empty declaration, but the willingness to step up proactively and execute tasks thoroughly when time is tight, pressure is high, and situations on the ground are constantly changing. It was through these practical experiences that Chen Yichen began to truly understand the sense of order, collaborative power, and social significance behind volunteer service.
02 | Community Assistance: Understanding the Weight of Responsibility
Subsequent community visits exposed Chen Yichen to more real-life hardship. An elderly person living alone, hindered by language barriers, rarely sought help from the outside world and suffered from a severe shortage of daily necessities. When Chen Yichen accompanied the team to visit his home, the elderly man was initially somewhat reserved, doing little more than expressing constant gratitude. To put the resident at ease, Chen Yichen intentionally slowed down his speech, confirming actual needs while assisting in organizing the kitchen and daily supplies. Upon their departure, the elderly man held the volunteers’ hands and repeatedly reminded them to stay safe on their way home. This subtle moment deeply touched Chen Yichen, making him realize that public welfare service is not only about material assistance, but also about enabling beneficiaries to feel respected, understood, and cared for.
Later, Chen Yichen actively participated in youth mentorship and public welfare classroom activities organized by ICSO. Working with children who had just arrived in the UK and were not yet accustomed to the language environment, he was responsible for assisting with reading sessions and educational guidance. At first, some children were shy and reluctant to express themselves. Instead of rushing to correct their pronunciation or imposing undue pressure, he started conversations around topics they were interested in, gradually encouraging them to read aloud and share their thoughts.
On one occasion, a child made a pronunciation mistake and was briefly laughed at by a peer, causing him to stay silent for the rest of the lesson. Chen Yichen did not criticize anyone publicly. Instead, after class, he sat with the child individually to finish reading that short passage, reassuring him: “It is completely normal to make mistakes. Just having the courage to speak up is already brave.” Over time, the child gradually began raising his hand in class and even proactively shared his short essays with the volunteers. For Chen Yichen, the public welfare classroom is not just about imparting knowledge; more importantly, it is about helping children feel seen and encouraged, giving them the courage to continue expressing themselves in an unfamiliar environment.
03 | Environmental Advocacy: Translating Concepts into Action
During the environmental protection campaigns launched by the ICSO UK Branch, Chen Yichen also undertook a significant amount of foundational work. He contributed to designing publicity materials for low-carbon living, assisted in compiling community resident questionnaires, and introduced concepts such as waste sorting, eco-friendly commuting, and reducing single-use plastics to passersby at event sites. Facing community members of diverse ages and backgrounds, he consistently demonstrated patience, using clear and straightforward language to explain the connection between environmental concepts and daily life, striving to turn low-carbon awareness from printed brochures into actual public behavior. Combining his academic background in Social Policy and Management, Chen Yichen also voluntarily compiled survey findings into concise reports to help the team better understand the environmental priorities of different age groups.
According to official ICSO records, over the past two years, Chen Yichen has participated in more than 20 ICSO volunteer activities. His service covers community support, educational tutoring, environmental advocacy, logistics management, event execution, and post-event documentation, accumulating a total of 326 volunteer hours. By virtue of his long-term steady participation, highly responsible attitude, and meticulous performance, he was recognized as an ICSO Three-Star Youth Volunteer and awarded the ICSO Volunteer Service Certificate.
From his initial tentative involvement to proactively taking on core responsibilities, Chen Yichen has continuously grown through his volunteer experiences at ICSO. He does not express his dedication in exaggerated ways, but rather responds to public welfare with consistency, humility, and diligence. His story demonstrates that the true value of youth volunteers lies not only in accumulated service hours or certificates of honor, but in their willingness to dedicate their time, abilities, and patience to genuine societal needs. Public welfare is never far away—it exists in every concrete action, and shines through every volunteer who treats beneficiaries with sincerity and completes their duties with care. May more young volunteers follow in Chen Yichen’s footsteps: understanding others through service, tempering themselves through practice, and turning every dedicated act of service into a beacon of light for those around them.
