SWEATING FOR EDUCATION
Recently I came across this delightful story of determination, compassion and radical generosity.
In 1987, a 74-year old rickshaw puller by the name of Bai Fang Li came back to his hometown planning to retire from his backbreaking job. There, he saw children working in the fields, because they were too poor to afford school fees.
Bai returned to Tianjin and went back to work as a rickshaw puller, taking a modest accommodation next to the railway station. He waited for clients 24 hours a day, ate simple food and wore discarded second-hand clothes he found. He gave all of his hard-earned earnings to an unknown orphanage that takes care of over 300 orphans in Tianjin. This orphanage also runs a school for the orphans and other poor children in the area.
In 2001, he drove his rickshaw to Tianjin YaoHua Middle School, to deliver his last instalment of money. Nearly 90 years old, he told the students that he couldn’t work any more. All of the students and teachers were moved to tears.
In total, Bai had donated a total of 350,000 yuan to help more than 300 poor students continue with their studies. In 2005, Bai passed away leaving behind an inspiring legacy.
ONE QUOTATION TO WALK WITH
"It is OK that I suffer, as long as the poor children have something to eat and that they can have a proper education. I am happy just to do all these things." | Bai Fang Li
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