In 1987, 74-year-old rickshaw driver Bai Fangli returned to his hometown to retire from his tough job. There, he saw children working in the fields because they were too poor to afford school fees.
Bai went back to Tianjin and started working as a rickshaw driver again, finding modest housing near the train station. He was available to customers around the clock, ate simple meals, and wore worn-out, hand-me-down clothes he found. Every penny he earned through hard work went toward helping needy children get an education.
In 2001, he took his rickshaw to Tianjin YaoHua Middle School to make his final donation. Nearly 90 years old, he told the students he could no longer work. Students and teachers alike were deeply moved to tears.
Altogether, Bai donated 350,000 yuan to support more than 300 poor students in continuing their education. He passed away in 2005, leaving behind an inspiring legacy.
If a rickshaw driver, wearing hand-me-down clothes and without any education himself, could help 300 children go to school, just imagine what you and I can do with the resources we have to create positive change in the world!