Dear All,

This is to share a stroy from one of my friends. This story will encourage other persons with disabilties, particulary for youth with disabilties to grasp their opportunity for their future development. We should never give up our effort.

Mr. Wang was born in a poor famer’s family and both his both parents are illiterate additionally, Wang was disabled by a sudden high fever when he was a child, since then Wang never could stand but he struggled to survive. Wang heard the sighs from his parents, relatives and neighbours. Some neighbours had suggested his parents that they should send him to an orphanage or abandon him on street for others to deal with.

Wang’s parents never gave him up. Interestingly Wang had great understanding of his parents since he understood things. He has been always adhering to his belief that: “I must work hard, I should not become a burden on my parents. Otherwise, what would I do after my parents’ death?”

There is a great saying in China that “education would save your future life.” As a child, Wang was keen to go to school just the same as his peers. Eventually after his parent’s begged permission from school, Wang was allowed to attend class.  With the aid of his parents and crutches, Wang started at primary school when he was ten years old, three year later than his classmates. Wang worked very hard in school; he was always determined to pursue higher education. Wang said that “I was dreaming of attending middle after primary school graduation, attending high school after middle school and attending university after high school.”

In order to achieve his education, Wang had been suffering a lot of difficulties getting to and from school; every day, Wang hobbled on the potholed dirty road with his crutches, his hands and armpits were sore from his crutches with burning bleeding at times. Wang often fell, hurting himself especially when the weather was bad when traveling to school was particularly miserable for him. From Wang’s home to school, it would take only 20 minutes for other children, but for Wang, I took 2 or 2.5 hours. Wang often went to school covered in mud and wet. Sometimes he was so late that school was almost finished when Wang arrived in school.

More uncomfortable for Wang was that many other children and even some adults stared at him ‘as a monster’ when he was on his way to school. They laughed, teased and mock at him …

Attending university was not easy for many of China’s young people in 2001. Wang participated in the national wide university entrance examination. He was very proud and excited as he was the 1st one person from his village to be selected to participate in exam. Like every pupil Wang was very worried because he was afraid that he would fail.

A month later, Wang was informed that I got scores 499 out of 600, which was over the university acceptance level. Next it was a long anxious wait; most of his classmates received offers from different universities but there was no information for Wang. 

Wang waited and waited…. one day in the September, there was a sudden horn sound from a car nearby his village. Curiosity took Wang outside. The driver was delivering an offer from Hefei TV & Broadcasting University for Mr. Wang.  The university gave Wang a full scholarship which covered all his school fees and accommodations as his score was much higher than the typical university accepted level; Wang felt he was the happiest man in the world. Wang’s mother cried tears of joy. “I hoped my father would be happy too if he had still been alive.” Wang said.

In the university, Wang studied very hard. Wang was always good at academic study; he spent double the time of other students studying. In 2006, Wang successfully gained his Bachelor Degree in the law studies.

When Wang graduated from university, at the year in 1997, China’s economic situation was not good and there was a huge challenge for graduates to find jobs.  As a disabled graduate, Wang felt even more challenges. Some peer suggested he should to return to his village to open a small grocery shop or to stay at home for waiting for the disability welfare allowance from the local government department.  Wang refused these suggestions, and he stayed in city looking for opportunities. Wang worried that he would not be able to survive in the city; he contacted many companies for job - any kind of the jobs as long as it could support him to remain in the city; Wang had even tried jobs like: watching the Internet Cafes, working at the Badminton Factory, even opening a small business stall on the street.

In 2005, Wang joined the RIA, initially engaged in finance and administration. Gradually Wang understood what an NGO or 3rd sector of social society was.  In last two years Wang has been elected as Secretary General of RIA and Chief Executive Officer. 

With some international organisations’ support, the programmes implemented by RIA gradually were getting popular in China; there were great concerns from governmental mass organisations, Medias and other NGOs. Wang was very proud of his leadership for RIA and the progress the organization has achieved.  

Wang gained a full scholarship from US Ford Foundation for his Master studies in US University which was greatly encouraging other youngsters with disabilities in China.. This scholarship paves way for his US university dream. Wang told me excitedly that “I never lost hope. I always held firm belief and if I continue to keep my faith, things would take a turn for the better.”

The scholarship will support Wang through his Masters Degree. Wang is grateful and honored for this gift. He will leave for US to pursue his studies very soon.  Wang is the 1st person with disability from China who was granted this scholarship from US Ford Foundation. Wang believes this will motivate other people with disabilities to work to achieve their own dreams and goals.  

At the end of interview, Wang told me that “I will repay my gratitude by serving society and other persons with disabilities. As a disabled person, I could say, I was unlucky, but I am useful. I tried my best to improve my situation to reduce my parents’ burden. As I said it at beginning Education would be save my future life.”