One year after Wang Fuman went viral for being “Ice Boy”—after a photo of him literally covered with ice on the head from walking to school last winter in southwest China’s Yunnan went viral, life has greatly improved for the boy as well as the many other ice boys and girls like him.

Wang, the 9-year-old schoolboy from Ludian County, Zhaotong, Yunnan, touched many hearts last January after walking into his classroom covered with ice and snow from the long walk to school. Media later learned that Wang was living with his sister and his grandmother, as his father worked away from home and his mother had left the family.

As media attention increased, Wang’s life began to warm up. His mother learned about the story of her son from the waves of reports. Ashamed and caring, she immediately returned to reunite with her family. And Wang’s father received a new job as a construction worker in Ludian, which pays him about 200 yuan per day, which is higher than average amount of pay in the small county.

Thanks to social donations and his father’s efforts, the family has moved to a new house, which is also 10 minute-walk to school.

Wang no longer needs to brave the cold winter. Local authorities and NGOs have all offered assistance to the school for renovation and construction. Now, not only has the school been equipped with more advanced labs and a computer room, but it also provides accommodation for students.

“I’m grateful to all those warmhearted people who’ve helped us. I’ll study hard and find a job in a bigger city in the future so that I can pay back their support,” the young boy said.

Beyond Wang and his family, local residents in Ludian have also undergone many changes thanks to the central government’s call to combat poverty. In 2018, some 15 villages under the poverty line were lifted out of poverty, bringing the poverty incidence rate down by 4.91 percentage points.