Wanderlust leads to path of charity

A 30-year-old travel buff finds his true calling in the country's underdeveloped areas. Chen Nan reports.

Wu Dibao arrived at the pretty village of Baizha in Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Qinghai province, in 2009. As he climbed a nearby mountain, he noticed a white tent pitched on lush, green grass. The tent, he discovered, was a school.

The mobile Pan Hong Primary School had two teachers and 68 students, most of whom were from families of Tibetan herders, and slept on the ground and ate simple meals. The tent served as a classroom and a dormitory but was without electricity or running water. The scene shocked Wu, who later launched a nonprofit called Walking China to help poverty-stricken areas.

"It was a personal project at the beginning because I was deeply touched. It was the poorest school I had ever seen but the students kept smiling," says Wu, now 30.

Since last year, the central government has placed 592 poverty-stricken counties on its priority list. Among them more than 300 counties are in the western region and more than 200 in ethnic-group areas, according to the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development.

Wu's passion for travel allowed him to document nearly 50 underdeveloped locations and interview more than 300 people over the past five years. Today, he tells the people's stories through a journal and a blog.

Wu studied chemical engineering in Guangdong province but was consumed by wanderlust soon after college. He says he crisscrossed Chengdu, Beijing, Tianjin and Guangzhou between 2006 and 2008. For money, he freelanced for an outdoor sports magazine that he now edits.

Wu often faces hardships such as being robbed during his visits to economically depressed places, but says the experiences are otherwise uplifting.

"Many people may have never heard of the villages that I have been to. I want to let more people know about what those poor areas look like and what's happening there," he says.

He says that left-behind children and "empty nesters" (parents who don't live with their grown-up children) are major social concerns within rural communities.

"Donating money is not enough to solve their problems. What they need is family care and emotional support," he says.

A family, originally from Henan province who now work in Yunnan province, caught Wu's attention. To help local villagers improve their living conditions, the family organize online donations and collects clothing and food from various parts of China.

While he admires the family's efforts in helping the local people to improve their lives, Wu feels, more help should come in the way of philanthropy. He even drew up an itinerary for netizens to join his efforts. Some people spent several weeks and even months helping him, but others left owing to the pressures of their own jobs.

Some people are willing to donate money to finance Wu's project but he has turned many down.

"I really appreciate their kindness but I hope to raise awareness in governmental organizations and large companies. It's really not enough to count on a single person's effort," Wu says.

"Those regions are isolated from the outside world," says Xu Feng, 34, who is from Xining city in Qinghai province, and helps Wu while running his own outdoor sports tour company.

"I believe his project will benefit people in those poor areas. Now we have several outdoor sports companies that want to donate," Xu says.

Not all sponsorship is driven by individuals. A few companies are involved too. An outdoor clothing and equipment brand under China Outdoor Retailer Association has been supporting Wu's project since 2009.

Wu dreams of visiting all impoverished regions within the next 10 years. But he acknowledges it will probably take much longer.

"I don't know how many years it will take to visit all those impoverished regions but I won't stop because I just don't want to live my life in vain," Wu says.

Contact the writer at chennan@chinadaily.com.cn

Q&A

What's your life's dream?

When I was in university, I wanted to build a photography cooperative like Magnum Photos because I am deeply influenced by great photographers. Now, I focus on the project by taking pictures of people in poor areas and writing their stories. I also want to publish books and let more people see their living conditions. The ultimate goal is to make some changes to their lives.

What's your take on the Chinese Dream? How is it related to your dream?

The Chinese Dream may seem very big, but it is actually based on ordinary people's dreams. My dream is to be a part of the Chinese Dream. I believe that someday, when I fulfill my dream, it will somehow influence others.

How have you built trust and cooperation with locals to achieve a common goal?

I made friends with many local people and we keep in touch. I feel very happy that I also influenced some people. There's this 14-year-old boy, who planned to stop studying after high school and go to work in a big city but after our talk one night, he decided to continue his studies.

What's the biggest lesson you've learned working and living with locals?

Those people's stories made me feel real and I learned a lot from them, such as being optimistic, hard working and enduring hardships.

How have you changed since launching the project?

I am much more mature, independent and strong. I don't complain anymore.

Do you still have something that keeps you going?

I feel touched by the people I meet, which keeps me going with my project. The more places I visit, the more urgently I want to help the residents.

What will China look like in 20 years?

I believe our country will become better and better. In 20 years, we will have better living conditions and higher spiritual pursuits. I hope by then there will be fewer impoverished regions.

A Tibetan woman in Qinghai province is just one of the many poverty-stricken people whose living conditions Wu Dibao hopes to improve through Walking China. Photos by Wu Dibao / For China Daily

A girl in Xiaxiamen village, Qinghai, which Wu visits.

Wu Dibao says the hardships won't stop him from visiting all the underprivileged areas. Provided to China Daily

(China Daily 05/20/2014 page19)