In 1987, the 74-year-old rickshaw driver Bai Fan-gli, of Tianjin, who had never gone to school and could not read or write – returned to his ancestral village to retire from his back breaking, hard working, and rather difficult menial job.
Yet, when he arrived at his village and he looked around — he saw that almost all the village children were working in the fields, because they were too poor to afford even the lowest of school fees, and their families needed the extra hands for fieldwork…
Right then, the elderly Mr Bai decided to do something…
Next day, he returned to Tianjin, and resumed his work as a rickshaw driver, by securing a very poor dwelling, near the train station, that afforded him to be on call at all times for the passengers disembarking the trains of Tianjin.
Yes, he made himself available to customers 24 hours a day, only consuming simple meals, saving his earnings, by reducing all expenses and even wearing worn-out, clothing he found, and not bought.
But he saved his money very carefully. Every penny he earned through his hard work — he invested in supporting his village needy children, so that they could pay the meager school fees, and thus receive a modest education.
In 2001, he drove his rickshaw to Tianjin YaoHua Middle School to give his final donation. Almost 90 years old, he told students that he could no longer work. All students and teachers were moved to tears.
In total, Bai donated 350,000 yuan to help more than 300 poor students continue their education. In 2005, Bai passed away, leaving behind an inspiring legacy.
If a rickshaw driver who wore hand-me-down clothes and had no education can support 300 children to go to school, imagine what you and I can do, with the resources we have — if we choose to make positive changes in our world…
Just choose your field of action, and kindness will spout forth.
Yours,
Dr Churchill
PS:
Please don’t overthink it.
