Seeing by ear

People attend the launch ceremony of Wang's The Handbook of Visual Narration, which gives instructions on narrating films.

While she's helping the visually impaired, Zheng says, they are changing her as well. "I'm the biggest beneficiary," she says.

She has learned how to raise funds and provide professional services, and she's putting Hongdandan on a path to support itself by some programs.

Zheng used to be a TV distributor, and wanted to do something more meaningful.

In 2003, she started to shoot Life on Line, a series of documentaries about physically challenged people, which was shown on China Education Television.

"I never believed that someone would lead such a bitter life. For example, some were deserted by family, and some sought help, but nobody cared," she says.

Unable to find sponsors for the documentaries, she invested 1.2 million yuan of her own, which were all her savings and relocation compensation for her house. In the most difficult time, she had to use the money from her son's savings.

As she learned more about how the visually impaired could hardly integrate into society, she decided to establish Hongdandan.

"My family all support me. I'm very grateful that as long as I want to do it, they will be on my side," she says. Wang used to be a businessman, but came to help her with Hongdandan. Their son also works there.

However, the biggest difficulty is covering Hongdandan's operating costs.

Last year was the first time the NGO could make ends meet, thanks to the government purchase of their programs and support from enterprises and foundations.

Each of the eight full-time employees earns more than 3,000 yuan per month and there are expenses for the nine full-time volunteers.

But Zheng says it's the best time, because all staff members didn't have a salary before April, 2007.

"Everyone should make some contribution to charity work. Our aim is to integrate the social resources, not to rely on government support," she says.

Zheng also hopes employment opportunities for the visually impaired, which is a global issue, can be expanded in China.

"In the West, there are many job opportunities for them, such as lawyers and wine tasters. But in China, the only massive job market is massage. There are only a few piano tuners."

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