Inspiration

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!

If you are going to LIKE and
SHARE one post today, let it
be this one!

JOIN »GeneraL KnowledgE [GK]« FOR MORE...

Lets Learn from Japan

2nd part –

"They say Japan was made by a sword.  They say the old gods took the cold blade into the ocean and when they pulled it out, four perfect drops fell back into the sea and those drops became the islands of Japan. I say Japan was made by a handful of brave men, warriors, willing to give their lives for what seems to have become a forgotten word – honour" 

The recent Tsunami in Japan caused great human suffering, the silver lining in the tragedy is the exemplary spirit exhibited by many Japanese.

ten learnings from the challenge created by the Tsunami in Japan -

1. THE CALM : Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.

 

2. THE DIGNITY : Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.

 

3. THE ABILITY : The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn't fall.

 

4. THE GRACE : People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.

 

5. THE ORDER : No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads, Just understanding.

 

6. THE SACRIFICE : Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?

 

7. THE TENDERNESS : Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.

 

8. THE TRAINING : The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.

 

9. THE MEDIA : They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.

 

10. THE CONSCIENCE : When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly.

 

--