Graduate student making a difference for rural children

Since middle school, Yin Shaman has taught rural children in her spare time to help empower underprivileged kids.

Yin, currently a first-year graduate student at Jishou University in Hunan province, voluntarily chose to teach at more than 20 primary schools in impoverished areas in the five years since she entered the college.

"A weak light, like me, perhaps can't reach far," Yin said. "But what if it is infinite illumination for the kids?"

Yin was frequently sick as a child. One time in hospital, she noticed volunteers patiently took care of patients even though they had no blood relationship.

The little girl was touched, and decided to join her middle school's volunteer association when she was 12 years old.

Even with a busy study schedule, Yin organized and participated in different kinds of voluntary services on more than 120 occasions.

In 2013, she became a university student at Jishou University, majoring in Chinese language and literature.

During that time, she went to more than 30 impoverished villages in western Hunan province, researching and interviewing 170 families.

Her field research found the psychological status of students in mountainous areas needs more attention.

Thus, a second classroom has been since established with music, fine arts, sports and mental health classes.

As of today, she has raised a total of 50, 000 yuan for 240 children from impoverished areas in Hunan.