In 1987, a 74-year old rickshaw puller by the name
of Bai Fangli 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 support children who could
not afford education.
In 2001, he drove his rickshaw to Tianjin YaoHua
Middle School, to deliver his last installment 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.
If a rickshaw-puller who wore used 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 to bring about positive change
in our world!
What have you to give Nigeria? Look inward and
find your purpose in life. This is the second part of
year 2015.