(A photo taken before the earthquake) Yang Wenyou (middle) with his students

Yang Wenyou, deputy headmaster at Bailu Town Primary School, lost his wife when the devastating Wenchuan earthquake hit the town in Sichuan province on May 12, 2008. But he helped saved hundreds of students, and today he is still working to help children feel safe.

"Lots of children today have to stay at home while their parents work,” Yang said. “It’s a tough task to read their minds, which is a question that we must conquer.”

Yang was deemed a hero in Bailu for helping lead the rescue of 1,046 students at Bailu’s primary school. "Standing on the shaking floor, he was the last one who came out after confirming none were in it,” He Yunhuai, Yang’s colleague, said.

But only a few minutes after the rescue of students, Yang learned the teachers’ dormitory was collapsed and suddenly remembered his 45-year-old wife was taking a lunch break in their room. He dashed to the dormitory building with several colleagues and shouted her name on the ruins. No reply from his wife, but several from others who were also trapped under the dormitory. So Yang and his people rescued several other colleagues before he could actually continue to find his wife. “I finally found her at the other side of the ruins and got her out with helps from some farmers.” Yang held his wife’s hand tightly while she was receiving transfusion at the playground, but she died the next day to serious injuries.

In addition to his vital role in rescue efforts, Yang later devoted himself to post-quake restoration and reconstruction work. He also provided psychological comfort to students and fellow teachers. In September 2009, the 1,046 students resumed classes at a new school.

Yang’s job as deputy headmaster is an administrative role, but he still works with students closely. He recently conducted a psychological survey of students who experienced the devastating earthquake. "Psychological comfort plays a vital role in relieving pain at the bottom of one’s heart,” Yang told China Daily.