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Beyond Service

They were instrumental in making the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games a success. And if not for their rescue and relief efforts following the devastating Sichuan earthquake that same year, more lives could have been lost. Today, they continue their impact by tackling our world's most pressing problems.

They are volunteers and social entrepreneurs, and they are key to China's future.

Once rare in China, volunteerism and social entrepreneurship are beginning to take shape. In large cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, volunteer programs and social-purpose organizations are sprouting. Multinational companies too are steadily joining the volunteering and social entrepreneurship wave, implementing service initiatives as part of their larger corporate citizenship programs.

Featuring a collection of true, inspirational and thought-provoking stories about volunteering and social entrepreneurship from around the world - from a young woman's journey fleeing the 1979 Iranian Revolution to starting a global volunteering platform in Europe, to a humanitarian worker's eye-opening experience teaching orphans of war at a refugee camp in Kenya - in both English and Chinese, Beyond Service will be the first guide to volunteering and social entrepreneurship of its kind in China.

Beyond Service is scheduled for release in spring 2012 by Beijing-based publishing house, Central Compilation & Translation Press (CCTP).

About Us

Under the aegis of the Friends of the United Nations, a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization affiliated with the United Nations, the Beyond Service book project team has worked to bring Beyond Service to fruition. For more about who we are:

Hannah Alexander

Manager

Hannah is currently a manager at a global social venture fund in New York. She is a member of McKinsey & Company's Touch Foundation - Young Leaders's group and sits on the Advisory Board of Summit on Summit, a UN Foundation-backed initiative to increase awareness of global clean water crisis. Hannah holds a B.A., magna cum laude, in Economics and International Relations from Mount Holyoke College.

Sylvia Xue Bai

Assistant Manager

Born and raised in Shenzhen, China, Sylvia graduated from Mount Holyoke College, magna cum laude, in Economics and French. After several years working as an investment banker in London, Sylvia decided to pursue her long-term passion of promoting Chinese art and culture to the world. Sylvia is currently pursuing a M.A. in History of Art.

Joa Alexander

Associate Editor

Joa holds an B.A., cum laude, in East Asian Studies from Harvard University. Since 2006, she has spent time volunteering, studying, and teaching in China, Korea, and Taiwan. While an undergraduate, Joa served on the Boards of Harvard China Care and Harvard Asia Pacifc Review. She is currently working at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Washington D.C.

Lilian Haney

Assistant Editor

Lilian Haney is an Assistant Program Officer at the New York office of the Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE), a nonprofit that seeks to increase international understanding between Japan, the United States, and Asia. Originally from Palo Alto, California, Lilian received a B.A. degree from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. degree from Kyung Hee University in South Korea. In her spare time, she volunteers as Director of Public Service for the young professional's group, Young Professionals in Foreign Policy.

Su Gao

China Representative

Su is currently an analyst of the Chinese water sector at Bloomberg New Energy Finance in New York City. She recently returned state-side after spending a year in Beijing, China exploring the energy and environment field at Peking University and the Natural Resources Defense Council. She graduated with a B.A. in Earth and Planetary Sciences from Harvard University and is dedicated to sustainable development in China and beyond.

Lorie Ruoyang Yin

Associate

Lorie was born and raised in Shanghai, China. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from Carleton College. Before studying towards her MBA at Columbia University, Lorie organized Expo Forums for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, and previous to that, worked at consulting firm Towers Perrin. She is avid to develop the arts and culture sectors in China.

Hiroko Egashira

Graphic Designer

With an incredible talent for creating visual arts, Hiroko has led graphic design projects for world renowned companies and organizations in New York and Tokyo, including a United Nations associated sustainability campaign. She is currently a member of a unique Japanese creative team called Mar United, Inc. Visit her portfolio site to see her amazing work.