Shanxi Evergreen Services

To assist Shanxi and other provinces by developing public benefit services for the common people.

Peder Torjesen was a Norwegian missionary who went to Hequ County in Shanxi Province in 1920, and established various social and community services as part of his ministry. In 1989 the Shanxi provincial government invited Torjesen’s descendants, who had since emigrated to the United States, to return to Shanxi to start a business which could assist in the development of Shanxi Province. In response, the Torjesen family and their friends established Shanxi Evergreen Services. (‘Evergreen’ is a reference to the Chinese name that Torjesen used, 叶永青). The organisation has since grown steadily.Evergreen is a wholly-owned foreign enterprise committed to public benefit work. The areas of work include medicine and public health, agriculture, education, orphan care, family services, business incubation and consulting. These areas of work engage with local partners and government entities to bring innovative solutions to pressing needs and to add value to existing Chinese programs.

Evergreen has a strong commitment to training, including training young professionals in skills and leadership.The medical work has focused on developing sustainable primary health care systems. Agriculture projects have prioritized training for farmers to increase their technical capacity and keep profits on the farm. Educational work focuses on participatory, skills-based opportunities for youth in English, especially through running summer camps. English teaching is also offered. Evergreen runs a vibrant community center in Yangqu County for young people. Orphan care involves partnership with the local Social Welfare Institute to provide care for infants and children and training for the workers. Family services provide training and programs to strengthen families facing heavy educational and social pressures that put stress on family relationships.

Business incubation provides mentoring to small-scale entrepreneurs to help them launch and grow their businesses. Business consulting provides assistance to Chinese and international businesses and organizations looking to bring foreign investment to Shanxi, and facilitation of foreign experts and cultural exchanges in business, social, publishing, academic and economic sectors.