Seyedeh Sara Ahmadi Nishaboori helps an expat who wants to receive a COVID-19 vaccination at a health service center in Ningbo on Dec 15. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Seyedeh Sara Ahmadi Nishaboori from Iran worked as a volunteer at a health service center in Ningbo, which offers COVID-19 vaccinations for expats, on Dec 15.

Having been living in the city for 17 years, Nishaboori is now a college student at Zhejiang Wanli University and can speak Mandarin fluently.

"I found that many expats had difficulties communicating with medical workers at vaccination sites when I received my first COVID-19 vaccine. That's why I worked as an interpreter here," said Nishaboori.

"I think it is important to build a bridge between the city and expats living in the city, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. I'm glad to help expats relieve their anxiety when assisting medical workers provide vaccination services to them."

Chen Xiuli, director of the health service center, said that the center's working efficiency improved due to Nishaboori's work. Chen also called for more people like Nishaboori to join in the volunteer efforts at vaccination sites.

Nishaboori said that she will continue to work at more vaccination sites in the city to help more expats.

Nishaboori is also a Communication Officer for Ningbo, a title granted by the local government in April to encourage expats in Ningbo to tell stories about the city from their point of view.