From A Veteran to A "Three Donations" Pioneer: The Growth Journey of Yu Wenxin, A Winner of "the Challenge Cup" Grand Prize, A Student from JUFE School of Sociology and Humanities

From October 31 to November 3, 2025, the final round of the 19th "Challenge Cup" National College Students' Extracurricular Academic and Scientific Works Competition was held at Nanjing University. Amidst fierce competition involving over 2,700 universities and more than 400,000 entries nationwide, Yu Wenxin — a graduate student from Class 25MSW2 of JUFE School of Sociology and Humanities — led his team to clinch the National Grand Prize with their project "United Hearts, Sustaining Lives: Exploring Pathways to High Donation Rates in Organ, Blood, and Bone Marrow Donation — Based on In-Depth Research Across 43 Counties (Districts) in 32 Cities of 8 Provinces". This marks the first time JUFE has secured the highest honor in the Philosophy and Social Sciences category of "the Challenge Cup", achieving a historic milestone.

The project directly addressed key bottlenecks in China's development of "the Three Donations" (blood donation, hematopoietic stem cell donation, and organ/tissue donation). Through field investigations spanning 43 counties (districts) across 32 cities in 8 provinces, combined with big data analysis, the team systematically identified three critical hurdles: low public awareness of donation, low information matching efficiency, and high donation withdrawal rates. Building on these findings, they innovatively developed a replicable and scalable mobilization system tailored to "the Three Donations" cause.

Multiple Roles, Unwavering Commitment: A Veteran's Life Relay

As a veteran, a Communist Party member and hematopoietic stem cell donor, Yu brings a unique synergy of identities to his work. He has donated blood 20 times, totaling 7,600 milliliters, and is an active member of the Jiangxi Red Cross "the Three Donations" Volunteer Service Team. These experiences have deepened his dedication to safeguarding life.

"In the military, I have learned perseverance; as a Party member, I uphold the commitment to serve the people; as a social work graduate student, I strive to advance 'the Three Donations' cause with professional knowledge", Yu shared. It is the convergence of these roles that has steadfastly guided him along this path of hope.

Interdisciplinary Innovation: Blending VR Technology with Humanities

Yu holds a bachelor's degree from JUFE Virtual Reality (VR) Modern Industry College and is currently pursuing graduate studies under Professor Li Chungen and Associate Professor Hong Lumin at the School of Sociology and Humanities. Interdisciplinary background enables him to seamlessly integrate technological thinking with humanistic care.

In the research, the team applied social work expertise, incorporating ecosystem theory into the analysis of donation behavior. They provided end-to-end services for potential donors through case management and established support networks via group work models — effectively reducing donation withdrawal rates.

From Individual Action to Collective Impact: Spreading Life-Affirming Care

"I still recall the nervousness mixed with excitement of my first blood donation," Yu reminisced, "but the thought that my blood might save a life turned all anxiety into motivation."

From an individual donor to a team leader exploring "Three Donations" mechanisms, Yu has evolved from a practitioner to an advocate. After joining the Jiangxi Red Cross Volunteer Team, he continued to explore new models that combine social work professionalism with volunteer services, expanding the reach of life care.

Forging Ahead: The Life Relay Never Pauses

"This award is both encouragement and responsibility," Yu emphasized. "We will deepen our research to ensure the project's outcomes benefit more lives." As a veteran and Party member, he remains committed to "answering the call of life", steadfastly advancing along the journey of life relay and embodying the mission and responsibility of youth in the new era through tangible actions.

(Text and photos by Hong Lumin, School of Sociology and Humanities)