Disabled teacher works in remote village for 30 years

"Seeing my students' growth brings me great joy in my life," said 60-year-old Li, a primary school teacher in the remote village of Yezhudian, located in the Dayao Mountains of southwest China's Guangxi.

Li, who was born in Yezhudian, has a strong affection for his hometown. In 1977, he returned there after graduating from college, determined to teach the village children and help them to access a better future. In the following years, he worked for six different primary schools.

Li was bitten by a poisonous snake on his way to see one of his students in April 1981. After being bitten, he suffered from a progressive atrophy of his thigh muscles and bone necrosis. After that, in the 20 plus years that followed, he went to and from school with a crutch. Then, due to chronic pain, Li chose to have his leg amputated in August 2005. Ever since, he has walked with the assistance of a prosthetic leg.

Li has to walk across rocky fields and a river every day on his way to school, which is located just under 30 minutes from his home. Things become really difficult when Li has to commute during the rainy season.

Li almost lost his life on a day when it was pouring rain in March 2006. One slip nearly brought him down to the riverbank; it was only by grasping a tree trunk that he saved himself from being washed away.

More than 20 of Li’s students have gone on to college during his long career as a teacher.

Li should have retired in November of last year, but he loves his students and insisted on continuing to teach for a while longer. He subsequently received reemployment permit from the local education authorities.