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Social Welfare
The city has established a social welfare and aid network. Six districts have set up social welfare centers for the elderly and children and 18 townships have erected "Homes for the Elderly." There are more than 170,000 elderly people above 60. By the end of 2004, there were 26 social welfare institutions of all kinds, with 2,192 beds for the elderly or more than 3.4 beds for each 100 elderly people. Welfare institutions were set up in all sub-districts and districts.
Legal Aid
Each licensed lawyer in Shenzhen is obliged to deal with two legal aid cases each year in Shenzhen, which helps to raise their social responsibility and meet legal aid demands. Applicants must be Shenzhen permanent residents or having been lived here for more than one year, proven not to be able to afford charges and in need of legal aid, and have ample evidence to support their stands. In 2004, the city dealt with 3,978 legal aid cases and more than 50,000 consulting cases.
Volunteers
Shenzhen has more than 200 charity organizations, taking voluntary work institutions into account. More than 530,000 people are participating in voluntary work of different forms. Established in 1990, Shenzhen Volunteers' Association is the earliest voluntary work organization in China. The youngest member is only 14 years old and the oldest 78. They engage in more than 30 types of services in 16 categories. "Seeking volunteers' help when you are in trouble; doing voluntary work when you have time," have become a catchphrase of local people.
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