... A Garbage Collector, A Rickshaw Operator, A Vegetable Seller
What do they have in common? Let these 3 less than ordinary people inspire the world.
1) Li Yukun, Garbage Collector with a Heart of Gold
64-year-old sanitary worker and garbage collector Li Yukun has long passed her retirement age of 50 in China but she begged the Wendeng environmental protection department to let her keep her job because she has more than 10 students to support. Since 1998, Li has helped 15 students from poor families.
Sanitary worker Li Yukun, 64, sweeps a street in Wendeng city, East China's Shandong province, Dec 22, 2010.
Kang Yujing, a senior at Qufu Normal University in East China’s Shandong Province, is one of the 15 students helped by Li. She had been receiving 1,000 yuan from the kind-hearted grandmother yearly over the past four years. But she never imagined her “Rich Uncle Li” would turn out to be a sanitary worker and garbage collector, or even a 64-year-old woman, before meeting her in April.
Sanitary worker Li Yukun, 64, sorts thank you letters from students who received her donations, at her house in Wendeng city, East China's Shandong province, Dec 23, 2010.
After finding out the identity of her “angel” the Year Four undergraduate of Qufu Normal University decided to visit her. When she saw Li sweeping the Wendeng street, Kang ran towards her and held her tightly.
Kang Yujing (L), a senior at Qufu Normal University in East China's Shandong province, burst into tears in Li Yukun's arms after learning it is this 64-year-old grandmother who has been giving her 1,000 yuan each year, at their meeting April 19, 2010.
She burst into tears, as she had never imagined that the money given to her was from such a humble old woman doing such hard work.
Sanitary worker Li Yukun, 64, sorts thank you letters from students who received her donations, at her house in Wendeng city, East China's Shandong province, Dec 23, 2010.
After finding out the identity of her “angel” the Year Four undergraduate of Qufu Normal University decided to visit her. When she saw Li sweeping the Wendeng street, Kang ran towards her and held her tightly.
Kang Yujing (L), a senior at Qufu Normal University in East China's Shandong province, burst into tears in Li Yukun's arms after learning it is this 64-year-old grandmother who has been giving her 1,000 yuan each year, at their meeting April 19, 2010.
She burst into tears, as she had never imagined that the money given to her was from such a humble old woman doing such hard work.
“I had always thought that the philanthropist was a rich man called ‘Uncle Li’.”
In her thank-you letters to Li, Kang addressed her as “Uncle Li” before their meeting on April 19.
A thank you letter Kang wrote to Li shows she addressed it to Uncle Li.
Li, whose colleagues call “Iron Feet Li”, has always spent all her money helping the poor and the underprivileged. She leads a very simple life and lives in a crude home with an old donated TV set as the only appliance.
Wendeng’s construction bureau has given Li 50,000 yuan for living expenses, but she has donated all of the money, against the advice of her colleagues.
She also decided, after discussing it with her two married daughters, to donate her organs after her death. Li has also donated 100,000 yuan to victims of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and to other charitable causes.
Li counting her money before donating to a victim of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake at a post office in Wendeng city
Li may be just a poor garbage collector but she has a heart of gold! It is people like her that makes our world a much better place.
2) Bai Fang Li A Rickshaw Operator Who Gave Much To Orphans
His name is BAI FANG LI. He is a rickshaw operator most of his life, providing services to people who need to go from one place to another for a small fee.
His body is small, even too small compared to other rickshaw operators. However, he is very energetic and enthusiast. He starts his routine at 6am with fellowship with God. He then cruises the streets of the city on his rickshaw either to get a customer or to bring the customers to their destination. He ends his days after the hard work not sooner than 8pm.
All his customers like Bai Fang Li, because he is friendly, and his smile never leaves his face. He never determines the fee that his customers must pay, but he relies on the customers' generosity to pay for his services. Because of his good heart, more people prefer to use his services than others. Perhaps because of compassion to him, many people are willing to pay more than the going rates that most rickshaw operators charge. Maybe this is because they see how hard he, with his small body sweating, has to push till his breathing is heavy.
Bai Fang Li lives in an old and rusty hut in a slum area of the city where many rickshaw operators and garbage collectors live. He rents a portion of the hut and pays daily for a place to sleep. There is practically no furniture in the hut, but an old rug to sleep on after a very long and hard day at work. There is only one room under the roof to share with several other people. In this room, he often received visitors who come to get help from him. Inside the room, there is also an old cardboard box where he stores an old, badly torn and stitched blanket. There is also a tin plate, which he probably found in the pile of garbage around the hut, for him to eat and a tin can for him to drink from. At the corner of the hut, there is an oil lamp to give light to the room at night.
Bai Fang Li has no family or relatives. People just know that he comes from another place. However, he never feels lonely because he is always surrounded by people who love his company. They love him for his positive attitude and his generosity. He helps everybody who needs help, and he does it with joy in his heart and without expecting anything in return.
From what he earns, he should be able to afford better food and clothes. However, he donated most of his earning 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.
An incident that changed his way of life
Bai Fang Li started giving his donation at the age of 74. This is the story of how his heart was touched and how he made the decision to do what he was doing.
One day he was resting after dropping off a customer. He saw a tiny and skinny six year old boy on the street offering his service to an older lady to carry her groceries that she bought from a nearby market. He saw this little boy carry the heavy grocery bags with a lot of struggle, but he was determined to do the job well. There was a big smile on the boy's face when he had completed the duty and received some change from the lady for his service. This boy looked up the sky mumbling something as if he was thanking God for the blessing that he had just received. Bai watched the boy doing it to several ladies who were shopping in the market, and every time he received payment for his services, he would look up to the sky and mumbled something.
Later, he saw the boy going to a pile of garbage and dug into the garbage looking for something. When he found a dirty piece of bread, he was so happy. He cleaned the bread the best he could, and he put the bread in his mouth and enjoyed it as if it were a piece of bread from heaven. Bai's heart was so touched by what he saw. He approached the boy and offered to share his lunch with him. Bai was wondering why the boy did not buy a decent lunch with the money he earned from providing services to the ladies. The boy said, "I will use the money to buy food for my siblings."
Bai asked, "Where are your parents?"
The boy replied, "My parents were separating stuff from garbage everyday. However, one month ago, they disappeared and I have never seen them again. Thus, I have to work to feed myself and my two younger sisters."
Bai Fang Li asked the boy to take him to his sisters. Bai's heart was crying when he saw the two girls, 5 and 4 years old. The girls were dirty and skinny, and their clothes were very dirty. The neighbours did not care about the condition of these three children, because they were struggling to cope with their own lives too.
Bai Fang Li took these three children to an orphanage in Tianjin. He told the manager of the orphanage that he would bring all the money he made and give it to the orphanage to help the children there to get food, care and education. Since then Bai Fang Li decided to work harder and with more determination in operating the rickshaw to earn money for the orphanage. He started early and finished late to get the extra money. From all his earning everyday, he put aside some to pay rent for his living space in the hut, to buy two raisin breads for his lunch and a small piece of meat and egg for his dinner. The rest of the income was donated to the orphanage to help them to feed and care for the children.
He is very happy doing all these things, despite his limitation. He felt that it was a luxury that he had a place to live, food to eat and clothes to wear, even clothes that he got from a disposal. He was always thankful for what he had.
Bai Fang Li worked as a rickshaw operator 365 days a year, regardless of the weather, and often when it was snowing or when the sun was very strong and hot. When asked why he would sacrifice so much for these children, he always said, "It is OK that I suffer, as long as the poor children have something to eat and can have proper education. I am happy to do all these things."
Giving Without Expecting Anything in Return
Bai Fang Li started donating to the orphanage since 1986. He has never asked anything in return from the orphanage. He does not even know which children benefit from his donation. For the next 20 years, Bai Fang Li operated his rickshaw for one purpose: to be able to give donation to the orphanage in Tianjin. At the age of 90, he brought all his savings of about RMB500 (about US$80) that he has stored neatly in a box to the school named Yao Hua that was run by the orphanage.
Bai Fang Li said in a sad voice, "I am too old and weak to operate rickshaw now. I cannot continue with the donation. This could be my last donation." All the teachers in the school were touched and cried.
When Bai Fang Li died at the age of 93, he died in poverty. Despite that, he had donated RMB 350,000 (about US$53,000) to the orphanage and the school that was run by the orphanage.
The last photograph that his friends have about him has an inscription: "An extraordinary love for an extraordinary person."
If a poor person gives out of his lack, he is an heir of heaven that was sent to this world, who teaches us to be continually thankful and to give to others who are in need.
3) Chen Shu-chu The Generous Vegetable-seller
Wed, Dec 01, 2010
Reader's Digest
The generous vegetable seller by Esther Liang
After the morning hustle and bustle, the atmosphere at Taitung county's Central Market quietens as every stall shuts for the day and their owners return to the comfort of their homes.
A lone lamp shines on a vegetable stall. With head bowed, Ms Chen Shu-chu silently sorts out the vegetable leaves as she waits for the occasional afternoon customer.
Decades of hard work have caused the fingers on her right hand to curl and joints to swell; her feet have deformed slightly.
Bai Fang Li asked the boy to take him to his sisters. Bai's heart was crying when he saw the two girls, 5 and 4 years old. The girls were dirty and skinny, and their clothes were very dirty. The neighbours did not care about the condition of these three children, because they were struggling to cope with their own lives too.
Bai Fang Li took these three children to an orphanage in Tianjin. He told the manager of the orphanage that he would bring all the money he made and give it to the orphanage to help the children there to get food, care and education. Since then Bai Fang Li decided to work harder and with more determination in operating the rickshaw to earn money for the orphanage. He started early and finished late to get the extra money. From all his earning everyday, he put aside some to pay rent for his living space in the hut, to buy two raisin breads for his lunch and a small piece of meat and egg for his dinner. The rest of the income was donated to the orphanage to help them to feed and care for the children.
He is very happy doing all these things, despite his limitation. He felt that it was a luxury that he had a place to live, food to eat and clothes to wear, even clothes that he got from a disposal. He was always thankful for what he had.
Bai Fang Li worked as a rickshaw operator 365 days a year, regardless of the weather, and often when it was snowing or when the sun was very strong and hot. When asked why he would sacrifice so much for these children, he always said, "It is OK that I suffer, as long as the poor children have something to eat and can have proper education. I am happy to do all these things."
Giving Without Expecting Anything in Return
Bai Fang Li started donating to the orphanage since 1986. He has never asked anything in return from the orphanage. He does not even know which children benefit from his donation. For the next 20 years, Bai Fang Li operated his rickshaw for one purpose: to be able to give donation to the orphanage in Tianjin. At the age of 90, he brought all his savings of about RMB500 (about US$80) that he has stored neatly in a box to the school named Yao Hua that was run by the orphanage.
Bai Fang Li said in a sad voice, "I am too old and weak to operate rickshaw now. I cannot continue with the donation. This could be my last donation." All the teachers in the school were touched and cried.
When Bai Fang Li died at the age of 93, he died in poverty. Despite that, he had donated RMB 350,000 (about US$53,000) to the orphanage and the school that was run by the orphanage.
The last photograph that his friends have about him has an inscription: "An extraordinary love for an extraordinary person."
If a poor person gives out of his lack, he is an heir of heaven that was sent to this world, who teaches us to be continually thankful and to give to others who are in need.
3) Chen Shu-chu The Generous Vegetable-seller
Wed, Dec 01, 2010
Reader's Digest
The generous vegetable seller by Esther Liang
After the morning hustle and bustle, the atmosphere at Taitung county's Central Market quietens as every stall shuts for the day and their owners return to the comfort of their homes.
A lone lamp shines on a vegetable stall. With head bowed, Ms Chen Shu-chu silently sorts out the vegetable leaves as she waits for the occasional afternoon customer.
Decades of hard work have caused the fingers on her right hand to curl and joints to swell; her feet have deformed slightly.
Ms Chen leads her life with a daily routine. Waking up at three in the morning, she makes her way to the vegetable wholesaler and sets up her stall, which she tends till seven or eight in the evening.
Being the first to arrive and last to leave, the other stall owners have fondly given her the title of "market manager".
In the dark and damp market, Ms Chen, nearing her 60s, holds the stall her father left her dearly.Yuan-Jin Vegetables is her everything.
In the dark and damp market, Ms Chen, nearing her 60s, holds the stall her father left her dearly.Yuan-Jin Vegetables is her everything.
With her vegetables selling at "a bundle for NT$30 (S$1.30), three bundles for NT$50", she earns only marginal profits.
Yet, her frugality has allowed her to donate about NT$10 million towards various charitable causes, including helping schools, orphanages and poor children.
The selfless generosity of a woman with such humble income has placed her under the international spotlight.
In March, Forbes magazine named her one of 48 outstanding philanthropists from the Asia-Pacific region. A month later, Time magazine selected the year's top 100 influential people and she emerged under the Heroes of Philanthropy category.
Fellow Taiwanese and Oscar- winning director Lee Ang wrote her entry personally. "Money is worthy only if given to those in need," he quoted Ms Chen. He also wrote: "Amazing, but of all she has given away, her greatest gift is leading by example."
Yet, her frugality has allowed her to donate about NT$10 million towards various charitable causes, including helping schools, orphanages and poor children.
The selfless generosity of a woman with such humble income has placed her under the international spotlight.
In March, Forbes magazine named her one of 48 outstanding philanthropists from the Asia-Pacific region. A month later, Time magazine selected the year's top 100 influential people and she emerged under the Heroes of Philanthropy category.
Fellow Taiwanese and Oscar- winning director Lee Ang wrote her entry personally. "Money is worthy only if given to those in need," he quoted Ms Chen. He also wrote: "Amazing, but of all she has given away, her greatest gift is leading by example."
KINDNESS BEGETS KINDNESS
Despite the honour of receiving the Time award in New York, gaining global recognition, and a personal meeting with President Ma Ying-jeou, all Ms Chen really cares about is her vegetable stall.
If not for President Ma and the Foreign Minister personally convincing her to go, she would not have agreed to visit New York, as she felt that "this is not a competition and I did not win anything".
Amid the frenzy of applying for a passport and preparing for the visit, her main concern was that her regular customers would not get their vegetables.
Ms Chen has become a celebrity in Taitung county. The local authorities decorated her stall with congratulatory posters and banners hailing her as the Pride of Taitung and the Model of Philanthropy.
There are fans who turn up at the stall with a vegetable basket and a camera, hoping for a picture with Ms Chen.
Despite all the attention, she remains humble. "I have done nothing extraordinary and anyone who wants to can do it.
There are many other charitable people; we just don't know about them," she said. Ms Chen, who is unmarried, added: "I do not place great importance on money. When I donate to help others, I feel at peace and happy, and I can sleep well at night."
She also feels for the poor, having experienced hardship in her younger days.
Born in 1950, Ms Chen lost her mother after completing her primary-school education. Her mother was admitted to hospital because of difficulties in labour and the family had to pay an insurance of NT$5,000 before medical attention could be granted.
Ms Chen saw her father asking their neighbours for money, but it was too late to save her mother. The eldest daughter in the family, Ms Chen had to grow up overnight.
She gave up her studies and dedicated her life to helping at the vegetable stall.
When she was 18, her younger brother fell sick and the illness dragged on for over a year, gradually depleting the family's savings.
Doctors suggested that the family send her brother to Taiwan National University Hospital, but they could not afford the fees.
Mr Huang Shun-zhong, a teacher at Ren-ai Primary School, started a donation drive.Unfortunately, her brother could not be saved.
After experiencing the kindness bestowed upon her family, Ms Chen made up her mind to help the poor once she was able.
When her father died 17 years ago, Ms Chen, a devoted Buddhist, generously donated NT$1 million to Fo Guang Shan Monastery.
In 2000, she donated NT$1 million to her alma mater, Ren-ai Primary School, to set up an Emergency Relief Fund to help poor children obtain financial help.
SIMPLE LIFE WITHOUT LUXURIES
Assisting in the setting up and maintenance of the fund is Mr Li Guo-rong, who teaches Ms Chen's nephew.
In 2001, Mr Li had a plan to build a library for the school and estimated the cost to be between NT$4 million and NT$5 million.
When he approached Ms Chen, in the hope that she might contribute NT$50,000, Li was shocked when she said she would fund the entire project.
The school was sceptical, but Ms Chen was determined.
In May 2005, the two-storey library was completed and named Chen Shu-chu Library in honour of the "Vegetable Market heroine" alumnus. She had donated NT$4.5 million.
Ms Chen's ability to donate such large sums of money has led many to ask: How can a mere vegetable seller earn so much?
"Spend only what you need, and you'll be able to save up a lot of money!" said Ms Chen.
Since 1996, she has donated NT$36,000 to help three children in the Kids Alive International organisation.
To achieve this, she explained that she empties her loose change into three little cardboard boxes at home every night.
"This is a simple act that anyone can do, isn't it?"
Ms Chen leads a very simple life without any luxuries. She does not have any desire for material gain nor any form of enjoyment.
Work, she said, is her enjoyment. "I love my work. If I didn't, would I be able to work 16 hours a day?"
All she needs is food and a place to sleep. Everything else is a luxury. She does not buy expensive clothes as "I do not socialise much, hence, there is no need for such beautiful clothes. The clothes from the roadside stalls are good enough for me, and, even then, I like to bargain".
Her daily meals cost less than NT$100: a bowl of vegetarian rice and a bowl of noodles for NT freeze whatever that cannot be finished, spend another NT$20 on a can of gluten and add that to the rice with some hot water.
"This becomes porridge and is very tasty," she said.
HER HAPPINESS PRINCIPLE
She also sleeps on the hard floor, a habit from her younger days when she started working at the vegetable stall.
The comfort of her warm bed made getting up early to go to the wholesaler very difficult, especially during the cold winter months. Hence Ms Chen made up her mind to sleep on the cold floor, where she would not run the risk of being late.
Has business improved after winning the award? "Business is as usual," she said. "I still need to sell my vegetables. Not much has changed."
Advertisers have approached her to film commercials; financial managers have offered to manage her finances and other well-wishers have offered to donate money. She rejects these advances politely.
"It is easy to return borrowed money, but difficult to return a favour,"
she said.
"I have to be very careful in handling money matters," she added.
Even when customers tip her, she refuses to accept.
"Buying from my stall is already a form of support," she explained.
The only commercial Ms Chen was willing to take on was for the Bureau of National Health Insurance, in memory of her beloved mother. She requested all shoots be done beside her stall so as not to affect her business.
The only payment she was willing to accept was a black T-shirt given by the Bureau.
Since her return from New York, Ms Chen has been working even longer hours. She has a new goal: To collect NT$10 million to set up a Chen Shu-chu Bursary aimed at helping poor children pay for school fees and medical bills, things she could not afford as a child.
"All I need is to sell a few more vegetables, save a little more money, in addition to a number of insurance policies that are near the end of their term.
A lot of people are also willing to donate. I am sure there won't be any problems," she said.
Mr Li, who treats Ms Chen like a sister, said that setting up the bursary is actually a good way to let her retire from selling vegetables and start influencing society with her reputation, in the hope that there will be more generous "Chen Shu-chus".
As for Ms Chen, she said: "My philosophy in life is simple: If doing something makes you worried, then it must be a wrong thing. If it makes you happy, then you must have done the right thing. What others say is not important."
She is content with what she has and feels that as long as she "lives a life she wishes for and does the things she wants, that is good enough."
A MOST INSPIRING TRUE STORY OF A HUMBLE, SELF-SACRIFICING COMMON WOMAN. A RARE BREED IN THIS MODERN RAT-RACE WORLD OF OURS!
It is such heart-warming acts like these that give humanity hope, don't you agree?
