A boy in central China who donated 10 yuan (US$1.5) to the Three Gorges Dam project in the 1990s now works for the power grid, helping transmit the electricity it generates across the country.
Wang Yu, 47, works for the State Grid Corporation of China in his hometown of Zigui county, Hubei province, according to Hubei Daily.
In 1991, 12-year-old Wang received a daily allowance of just one yuan – barely enough to buy breakfast – at a time when his parents earned a combined monthly salary of less than 100 yuan (US$15).
While doing his homework, he overheard his father and friends discussing a nationwide appeal for public donations to fund the massive dam.
When a visiting relative gave him 20 yuan to spend on treats and toys, Wang kept half and hurried to the local post office to send the remaining 10 yuan to the China Three Gorges Project Corporation.
Soon after, he received a receipt and a letter of thanks from the company.
Looking back, Wang admitted he was too young to understand grand ideas like building a “monumental project for future generations.”
He simply hoped the dam would put an end to the local power outages that often forced him to study by candlelight.
In 1992, Yichang Daily featured Wang as one of the region’s outstanding news figures and recognised him as the first person in Hubei province to donate to the project.
Located on the main stream of the Yangtze River in Yichang, the Three Gorges Dam is the world’s largest water conservancy project, serving purposes including flood control, power generation and navigation.
Construction officially began in 1994, and the main structure was completed in 2006. The total cost reportedly reached around 250 billion yuan (US$37.5 billion), including the cost of relocating 1.3 million residents.
Wang was among those relocated when Zigui’s old county seat was cleared in 1998. “It was hard to leave home, but moving was our contribution to the country,” he told the media.
Years later, Wang joined the Zigui branch of State Grid Hubei Electric Power.
As electricity from the dam flows across the country, he said, he takes pride in monitoring the control console and helping keep power flowing to ordinary households.
In October, Wang’s story resurfaced when photos of his receipt, displayed at the Three Gorges Project Museum, went viral online.
He later revealed that he had made a second 10-yuan donation soon after the first, feeling that his initial contribution was far too small for such a massive undertaking.
One online observer commented: “Back then, 10 yuan could cover my full year’s tuition. For someone so young to be that selfless is truly inspiring.”
“I donated eight yuan back then too,” another wrote. “This shows the true unity of the Chinese people.” -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
