Gao Shuzhen
Gao Shuzhen (born 1957) is a female educator from Wali Village, Sigexuang Town, Luannan County, Hebei, China. She served as a delegate to the 12th National People's Congress, representing Hebei.[1]
Biography
[edit]Gao Shuzhen is an ordinary rural woman from Wali Village, Sigexuang Town, Luannan County, Hebei Province. Her son, Wang Liguo, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of four, which left him physically disabled. When he reached school age, he was unable to attend a regular school. In hopes of helping her son, Gao initially planned to set up a small classroom at home. Later, she discovered that there were other children with physical disabilities in nearby villages who were also unable to go to school. As a result, she began running a school in her home for these children.[2]
In April 1998, Gao Shuzhen opened her first “Kangtou Classroom” (a home-based classroom set up on a traditional heated brick bed). The teacher was her daughter, Wang Guoguang. There were five students, four desks, two small blackboards, and a collection of old borrowed textbooks.Over time, Gao began to take in more and more children with disabilities. She never charged a single cent in tuition, despite falling deep into debt. To feed the children, the rice harvested from the more than 20 mu (about 3.3 acres) of paddy fields contracted by her family became their staple food. Gao also traveled long distances to buy household items in bulk and sold them at local markets in order to support the children's daily needs.[2]
After the story of Gao Shuzhen's “Loving Courtyard” was reported by the media, it sparked widespread public attention. Donations poured in from across China, and many volunteers came to the courtyard to offer their services free of charge. A hospital in Shanghai also performed medical procedures and surgeries for ten of the children at no cost.[2]
At the end of 2012, Gao Shuzhen was elected with a high number of votes as one of the “Touching Hebei 2012 Persons of the Year.” On February 19, 2013, the Touching China Annual Person of the Year Award ceremony was broadcast on CCTV-1, where she was selected as one of the national honorees.[3][4][5] In 2013, Gao Shuzhen was elected as a deputy to the 12th National People's Congress.[6]
On March 10, 2013, during a group discussion session of the Hebei delegation at the 12th National People's Congress, her speech was met with a round of applause from the entire room.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ "感动中国2012候选人物：高淑珍" [Touching China 2012 Nominee: Gao Shuzhen]. news.sina.com.cn (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-06-20.
- ^ a b c d "刘云山参加河北代表团审议 高淑珍的发言感动全场，长城网，2013-03-12" [Liu Yunshan Attends Hebei Delegation Review; Gao Shuzhen’s Speech Moves the Entire Audience — Great Wall Net, March 12, 2013] (in Chinese).
- ^ "央视揭晓"感动中国"2012年度人物（图）--传媒--人民网" [CCTV Unveils the Touching China 2012 Annual Person of the Year Award Winners]. People's Daily (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-06-20.
- ^ "2012年感动中国获奖人物揭晓" [The Winners of the 2012 Touching China Annual Person of the Year Award Have Been Announced]. news.sina.com.cn (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-06-20.
- ^ "央视揭晓"感动中国"2012年度人物（图） - 中国在线" [CCTV Announced the Touching China 2012 Persons of the Year]. China Daily (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-06-20.
- ^ "十二届全国人大代表名单公布 七常委当选" [List of Deputies to the 12th National People's Congress Announced; All Seven Politburo Standing Committee Members Elected]. Guancha (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-06-20.