Editor's note: In the battle with the COVID-19 epidemic, more and more fighters are coming to its front lines, including students and former students of the Open University of China (OUC). Like other fighters, no matter how ordinary, they are contributing what they can. Let's take a close look at some of their stories.

This is about a man who, after the outbreak of COVID-19, led his team to fight it with courage, a conscientious heart, and a strong feeling of responsibility.

His name is Xu Haichun, and he is a junior-college student in the spring 2019 Business Management class at Pudong East School of the Shanghai branch, and the founder of Shanghai Tengran Sports Culture. He was named an "Advanced Individual Migrant Worker in Shanghai”for 2018-2019.

Teaching prevention and control

Since the outbreak of the epidemic, reliable information has been hard to come by. Xu Haichun took it upon himself to fill this need, and on January 28, 2020, assembled a team to do so. From 9:00 to 20:00 every day, they forward information on the latest developments, ways of preventing infection, and government policies related to traffic and other issues to neighborhood WeChat groups, combating the spread of false information and giving correct guidance. As of 8 February, 74 volunteers have been involved, and have worked close to 700 hours.

Safeguarding Shanghai and protecting the homeland

On 27 January, Xu Haichun and his team signed up for epidemic-control activities organised by the Chongming Youth League Committee of the Communist Youth League, taking part in 12 hours of online and offline training related to temperature measurement and protection from disease. The training gave him a clear understanding of how to avoid getting sick, and he has helped man the G40 Chongqi inspection station, Chongming District, Shanghai, three times, around the clock.

During inspections, when examinees have trouble providing information, volunteers patiently give them instructions and check to ensure that all their forms are filled in correctly. Cold weather can cause thermometers to function poorly, and volunteers must repeatedly warm them before testing. But with every thanks, Xu Haichun and his team feel repaid for their hard work. "As hard as it may be, it's our responsibility," he says.

Helping protect villages and universities

On 27 January, Xu Haichun and his partners collected more than 400 3M masks and donated them to the Office for Epidemic Prevention and Control in Caolu Town after learning of a shortage there.

The epidemic is merciless, but humanity is compassionate. Xu Haichun's leadership has demonstrated the responsibility and practical focus of an OUC student.

By OUC Shanghai Branch