Breaking the waves, with a mission on our shoulders
Inside the conference room at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Mo Xiaoyu gently adjusted her simultaneous interpretation headset, her fingertips turning slightly white from the effort. This was her first time on an international stage, surrounded by representatives from around the world, their gazes a mixture of curiosity and scrutiny. She took a deep breath, remembering the solemn words of advice she had received before leaving: "Just be yourself."
"Dear delegates," she began in fluent English, her voice echoing throughout the vast conference hall, "In China, we are proving that emotional well-being is not a luxury but a fundamental human right..."
The speech went smoothly, with occasional applause from the audience. However, during the question-and-answer session, a discordant voice emerged.
"Ms. Mo," a representative from a Western country asked, adjusting his glasses, his tone questioning, "As far as we know, social organizations in China are strictly controlled. Can your foundation truly operate independently?"
The room suddenly fell silent, all eyes focused on her. Mo Xiaoyu felt beads of sweat on her back; the question was clearly a malicious one. She took a sip from her water glass, using the gesture to calm herself.
"In China, social organizations and the government work in partnership," she said, her voice firmer than ever. "It is thanks to government support that our services can reach even the most remote mountainous areas. Last week, we established our 127th service station in the Nujiang Gorge in Yunnan."
She pulled up a PowerPoint presentation showing photos of the foundation's work. When they saw the image of a Tibetan woman holding a volunteer's hand and smiling, the audience erupted in laughter.
"Independence is not isolation, and cooperation is not dependence." She looked around the room, her eyes sweeping over every face. "True independence is the ability to choose who to collaborate with and how to collaborate."
After her speech, several international representatives gathered around to exchange contact information. The Executive Director of UN Women shook her hand and said, "You have seamlessly integrated Eastern wisdom with modern psychology, making a significant contribution to global mental health."
That night, Mo Xiaoyu stood at the hotel window, lost in thought as he gazed at the dazzling New York nightscape. His phone rang, a video call request from Shen Que.
"The speech was a success." His smiling face appeared on the screen. "However, we may face some difficulties next."
"What's the meaning?"
"Some foreign media outlets are taking your remarks out of context," he said, his tone tinged with worry. "They're saying you 'suggested China needs external intervention.'"
Mo Xiaoyu's heart sank. The thing she was most worried about had finally happened.
After returning to China, the situation was indeed not optimistic. A well-known international media outlet published a distorted report, and the comment section was filled with false accusations against Chinese social organizations. Even worse, some domestic partners began to waver, fearing they would be implicated.
"Do we need to hold a press conference to clarify?" Lin Wei asked anxiously.
Mo Xiaoyu stood by the French window in her office, gazing at the bustling traffic on Chang'an Avenue below. The setting sun cast a golden glow over the city, but a gloomy mood gripped her heart.
"No," she thought for a long time, "let the facts speak for themselves."
She immediately launched an "Open Day" program, inviting diplomats stationed in China, international journalists, and foreign scholars to visit the foundation's project sites across the country. At a service station in rural Hebei, German journalists witnessed firsthand how volunteers helped victims of domestic violence; while at a factory in Shenzhen, French scholars witnessed how corporate psychological counseling improved labor relations.
"This completely overturned my perception," a British journalist admitted after the visit. "Chinese social organizations are much more professional than I imagined."
However, just when the situation seemed to be improving, new challenges arose. An international non-governmental organization suddenly announced that it would establish an office in China and proposed "deep cooperation" with the foundation.
After carefully studying the cooperation proposal sent by the other party, Mo Xiaoyu's brow furrowed further and further. The other party required sharing the recipient database, accepting "international supervision," and even revising the service purpose clause in the charter.
"This is a trap," Zhou Ling warned over the phone. "This organization has a complicated background and has received financial support from certain forces."
Late at night in her office, Mo Xiaoyu repeatedly flipped through the cooperation proposal. Agreeing to the collaboration would mean potentially leaking the recipient's privacy; refusing would be seen as a "rejection of international cooperation." This dilemma kept her awake.
Ultimately, she made the difficult decision: to refuse to cooperate but to maintain professional communication channels.
Sure enough, overseas media launched a new round of attacks, accusing the foundation of "refusing international cooperation" and "lacking transparency." Even more worryingly, some international donors began to waver, and the foundation's overseas fundraising projects suffered setbacks.
Just when the pressure was greatest, an unexpected turn of events occurred. Social organizations from Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America spoke out, sharing their successful experiences in collaborating with Chinese organizations. An Indian scholar published an article in a prestigious journal, stating, "The international community should pay more attention to diverse practical experiences."
At the same time, a project the foundation was carrying out in the border region of Yunnan unexpectedly won the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Best Practice Award. This award came at the perfect time and brought the foundation more international recognition.
At the United Nations Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva, the Chinese delegation invited Mo Xiaoyu to attend as a representative of non-governmental organizations. When Western representatives repeated their old tune, she calmly stood up:
"A country's social organizations should be judged by what they do for the people, not by whose standards they meet," she said in a clear and firm voice. "In China, we have helped millions of families, and that is the best answer."
The meeting was met with warm applause, and after the meeting, representatives from more than 20 developing countries approached her to discuss cooperation.
On the day she returned to China, at Beijing Capital Airport, Mo Xiaoyu looked at the bustling crowds in the terminal and suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of peace. As she went through customs, the officer recognized her and said with a smile, "Ms. Mo, thank you for your hard work."
At this moment, all the grievances and pressures turned into motivation to move forward.
Back at the foundation, Mo Xiaoyu first set about stabilizing the impacted collaborative projects. After more than a month of effort, overseas fundraising gradually recovered, with several international foundations even offering to increase their funding.
Just as everything was getting back on track, she received an invitation from the Ministry of Education to collaborate on the development of national mental health textbooks for primary and secondary schools. Mo Xiaoyu's eyes warmed slightly as she looked at the weighty invitation. This meant the foundation's philosophy would influence the next generation of Chinese people.
"This is a true breakthrough," she told her team members at the project launch meeting. "Rooting the concept of health in the hearts of the next generation is more meaningful than any international award."
Since the start of the textbook compilation process, the foundation's visibility has further increased. Mo Xiaoyu is also pleased to see that more and more local governments are actively seeking cooperation, hoping to incorporate mental health services into their public service systems.
Late at night, alone in her office, she sorted out her experiences from this international encounter. Outside, the lights of Chang'an Avenue shone like the Milky Way. She turned on her computer and began drafting a new proposal. This time, her focus was on a broader perspective: how to make China's experience in mental health services accessible to more countries.
The dawn breaks, and a new day begins. Mo Xiaoyu knows that the road ahead is still long, but as long as he has a mission on his shoulders, he can forge ahead.
Because behind her are thousands of souls eager for help and generations of Chinese people’s pursuit of a better life.
This strength will support her to continue her voyage.
When the mission is on your shoulders, you will just keep going regardless of the wind and rain; if your heart is as strong as a torch, you will be able to break through the waves.
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