China's first "Lei Feng Institute," dedicated to promoting the late soldier's spirit of altruism, patriotism and modesty, has been set up in Shanghai, news portal thepaper.cn reported Saturday.
The establishment of Lei Feng Institute, in the Songjiang district Shanghai Hope Project teachers' training facility, is a long-term project that aims to encourage a "good social atmosphere," said Wu Renjie, Shanghai Project Hope's office director.
Project Hope was jointly set up by the China Youth Development Foundation NGO and the Communist Youth League to boost rural education.
Lei Feng, a soldier who was the subject of a nationwide posthumous publicity campaign, has been a household name since Chairman Mao Zedong called on the entire nation to follow Lei's example one year after his death in 1962.
Wu said the project's priority has shifted from building educational infrastructure in rural areas to taking care of students' "mentality."
The institute will provide training to Project Hope teachers and volunteers in Shanghai, according to Wu.
On February 25, 150 people attended the institute's first seminar on Lei Feng, with attendees including officials from Shanghai's civilization authorities, members of the Shanghai Youth Federation, and representatives of local youth volunteers.
"Our first class received lots of positive feedback," said Wu, adding that many attendees only previously knew about Lei Feng's selflessness, and overlooked the fact that he was also faithful, dedicated and patriotic.
"The essence of learning from Lei Feng's spirit is his devotion to serving others. If everyone could do that, there would be no more corruption," said Wu.
On Saturday, which is also known as Lei Feng Memorial Day, Shanghai launched a new subway line named after Lei.
The subway is numbered 1218, referring to Lei Feng's birthday, has Mao's praise of Lei Feng printed on the side of its carriages, reading "Learn from comrade Lei Feng."
