The Nanjing Foreign Language Volunteer Service Association held its launch ceremony at Nanjing Jiangbei New Area Planning Exhibition Hall on July 12.

The event was jointly hosted by the Foreign Affairs Office of Nanjing Municipal People's Government, the Office for Guiding Cultural and Ethical Progress of Nanjing, and the Management Committee of Nanjing Jiangbei New Area. It’s hoped to make the city’s foreign language environment friendly for expats and improve the public service of foreign language in communication.

The new association will provide volunteer service for international sports events, cultural exchange and foreign affairs-related activities. Members consist of college students and those ready to share their language skills.

The association now has more than 50 member units including 12 volunteer teams at the district level and 20 groups from universities and colleges.

The ceremony also unveiled the “woodpecker campaign” for improvement of foreign language use in the historic and cultural city as it’s committed to be an international metropolis. In the campaign, people are encouraged to use a WeChat miniprogram to record and report translation gaffes, such as those found on public signs and posters.