Current location:World Wave news portal > opinions
'Sister Shoulder
World Wave news portal2024-05-21 19:49:04【opinions】0People have gathered around
IntroductionContact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom
- Home
- News
- People
- In-depth
- ACWF
'Sister Shoulder-Pole' Warms the Residents' Hearts
February 11, 2022Mai Qiongfang (R) does volunteer work. |
Mai Qiongfang is well-known in Baise, a city in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Since 1979, Mai has been providing volunteer services, such as taking care of elderly locals, who live alone, and supporting children so they can receive an education. Mai often uses a shoulder pole to carry donations (food and clothing) she has collected when she visits people living deep in the mountain. As such, netizens like to call her by a nickname, "Sister Shoulder-pole."
Mai remembers clearly something her mother taught her when she was a little girl. "Mom said a person is generally born with two hands, one for helping others, and the other for supporting him/herself. If we lend a helping hand to people in need, we will feel happy ourselves." Mai says her warmheartedness is the result of her mother's positive influence.
In 1979, then-19-year-old Mai worked at People's Hospital of Baise. She met an ethnic Yao woman, who was hospitalized, but who did not have a relative looking in on her. Mai volunteered to deliver meals to the woman every day. She visited the patient after she recovered and returned to her hometown, in a village on a mountain. Mai noticed many of the elderly people and children in that village did not have adequate clothes or shoes to wear in winter. She asked her family members and friends to help her collect donations of clothes and food. Then, Mai used a shoulder pole to carry the donations up the mountain and into the village.
Using the simple shoulder pole, Mai carried two big bags, filled with goods, each time she entered a village hidden deep in the mountain. In addition to delivering the donations, Mai invited children from impoverished families to live with her, so it was easier for the children to attend school. During the past 40 years, Mai has supported more than 100 children, and she has helped look after 40-plus elderly people. Since a photo of Mai using the shoulder pole to carry goods up the mountain went viral, netizens have referred to Mai as "Sister Shoulder-pole."
Mai established a WeChat group to help children from poor families. She tells the group's members when she is about to visit a village on the mountain. Members in other regions send clothing and/or other goods to Mai in advance; someone offers to drive, to help Mai deliver the goods; and, food vendors offer her the "best price," so she can purchase more foods. Mai is happy so many of the children, whom she has helped, have grown up to become volunteers.
Ethnic Zhuang people, who live in Baise, like handmade craft known as "mo mie" (麽乜). It is an ornament that has the auspicious meaning of "safeguarding the sun and embracing hope." In 2007, Mai established a team of 20-plus women in Baise to inherit the traditional mo mie hand-making skills. By organizing training sessions, teaching the skills and looking for orders to guarantee good sales, Mai has encouraged more than 300 women to participate in production of the craft. She has helped women from 84 impoverished families increase their incomes — and shake off poverty. Mai also does her best to raise the younger generation's awareness of inheriting the culture of their nation. She volunteers to "teach special lessons" at the city's library, during which she demonstrates to primary school students the various methods of making traditional snacks and crafts.
Under the guidance of the local women's federation, Mai in 2020 established a women volunteers' team. She has since organized women volunteers to provide training sessions in villages to teach traditional mo mie hand-making skills.
Photo Supplied by the Interviewee
(Women of China English Monthly December 2021 issue)
32.3KPlease understand that womenofchina.cn,a non-profit, information-communication website, cannot reach every writer before using articles and images. For copyright issues, please contact us by emailing: [email protected]. The articles published and opinions expressed on this website represent the opinions of writers and are not necessarily shared by womenofchina.cn.
Comments
Magazines
Projects
- 2023 Women Science and Technology Innovation Pioneer...
Photos
- People Enjoy Blooming Tulips in Jinan, East...
- Flowers Bloom Across China in Spring
Special Coverage
Address of this article:http://tonga.ekjotinstitute.com/content-93b599819.html
Very good!(24)
Related articles
- Insider Q&A: CIA's chief technologist's cautious embrace of generative AI
- Billie Eilish fans brand new song Lunch as a 'lesbian anthem' thanks to steamy lyrics
- Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner misses 4th straight game with left hamstring issue
- Bob Baffert is again the center of attention at the Preakness, even without the Derby winner
- Tom Brady and Jay
- Dabney Coleman dies at 92. The character actor specialized in villains
- California's scenic Highway 1 to Big Sur opens to around
- Xi, Putin attend signing ceremony of cooperation documents
- Travis Kelce downs whiskey shot on slice of bread at Kelce Jam without Taylor Swift
- AI, digital technologies inject new impetus to cultural tourism boom
Popular articles
Recommended
Burglar hurled stolen mobile phones at police from the top of 60ft high roof during nine
Pirates' Skenes pitches 6 no
EU probes Facebook, Instagram over child safety
Putin proposes reappointing Mishustin as Russian PM: media
Revealed: Brit tourist, 19, subjected to sex attack in Majorca 'was gang
Golfer's prompt release from jail rankles some who recall city's police turmoil
Stars center Roope Hintz out for Game 6 with upper
China ready to work with Arab countries for higher level community with shared future: Xi
Links
- Asian economy expected to increase 4.5 percent in 2024: report
- U.S. Summit for Democracy fans flame of confrontation to tumultuate world
- Xi Says to Continuously Consolidate, Develop China
- Messi wins 2022 Best FIFA Men's Player Award
- World Insights: NATO's meddling in Asia
- To invest in China is to win the future: spokesperson
- China approves first cargo airport
- IAEA board to hold meeting over Zaporizhzhia attacks
- World Insights: WTO members confront U.S. abuse of security exception for protectionist purpose
- With secret contract, U.S. uses spyware to supervise world: NYT