A woman in the Kuancheng district in the city of Changchun, Jilin province has devoted 49 years of her life to helping wayward children in the city avoid gang activities and violence and get back on the right path through education and leading them to do the right things, People's Daily has reported, on Aug 5.

The 86-year-old Du Jingying began her work back in 1966 when she first noticed that there were some misguided children on the streets of Changchun and decided to help them. Since then, through her involvement and good deeds, she has managed to aid as many as 40,000 children.

But the work is not always easy. Once she was injured by a rebellious child when she tried to get him to change his ways and ended up spending four days in hospital. Many of her friends thought that this incident might cause her to stop her work.

But, Du said no and instead began cooperating with local schools by volunteering as a councilor and later the provincial government gave her space for a classroom and activities. She would also take the students to visit and help the elderly and disabled. And she contacted the provincial juvenile delinquent rehabilitation center and gives her children a chance to communicate with children inside to better understand the law.

In addition, she also studied various forms of Chinese arts and would perform in the street and communities and talk about the law to make more people know the importance of law.

Du Jingying receives interview. [Photo by Meng Haiying/People's Daily]

In these years, she keeps studying calligraphy, Chinese Opera and photography to teach the students more.

She has always been generous to the students but is thrifty herself. She shops at the end of the day to get her food at a reduced price and meanwhile has given around 180,000 yuan ($ 29,000) to support children from poor families.

When asked why she takes all that trouble to do this, Du replies sensibly, "It is only when children have the proper guidance that they can contribute to our country as they grow up."