China Times (chinatimes.net.cn) reporter Wang Xiaohui Cangzhou photography report
After a heavy rain, the weather in Nanpi County, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province, went from dry and hot to sweltering, even if you stand in the shade of a tree, after a few minutes, your whole body will be soaked.
Early in the morning of August 4, 31-year-old Zhang Di drove his electric tricycle to Nanpisenqian Metal Products Co., Ltd. in Longmensi Village, and since October last year, this country lane between TangJiawu and Longmensi Village has become his hope. Half an hour or so away, Zhang Di seemed particularly excited, because the hardware behind the tricycle would soon turn into cash, and he pondered what to buy for his son and parents.
The car drove into the factory area, and Zhu Yusen, the general manager of Nanpisen Dry Metal Products Co., Ltd., came out of the office and asked the workers to help Zhang Di unload the goods while beckoning him to go in and drink some water. Zhu Yusen is an entrepreneur with a right leg disability, and Zhang Di is just one of the disabled people he helps.
For Zhu Yusen's invitation, Zhang Di thanked him gratefully and said goodbye, and he went home with a remuneration of 1500 yuan and a cart of new goods to be processed that the workers helped him load. In ten years, this is Zhang Di's first job after being paralyzed, and he cherishes it especially.
"After the paralysis of the lower body, I thought I was ruined, I couldn't see any hope in life, I was autistic for about a decade, and I couldn't imagine that I could still earn money to support myself and my family." Zhang Di said in an interview with a reporter from the China Times that now, he feels that he has come back to life.
Nine years later, I "walked" out of the house for the first time
In November 1990, Zhang Di was born in Dongtang Family Village, Luguan Township, Nanpi County, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province. Ten years ago, 21-year-old Zhang Di suffered spinal cord damage, paralysis of the lower body, became a first-degree physical disability, and needed to be accompanied by a wheelchair for many years. After that, his body was paralyzed and his home collapsed.
21 years old, which should have been the beginning of a golden age in life, faded the cyan of youth, began to face the world with an adult attitude, and began to bear the life of a man with the courage of a man, and Zhang Di's life was pressed the "pause button".
That year, Zhang Di's son was less than a year old, his young wife was overwhelmed and ran away from home; his parents, who were not old at all, suddenly grayed their hair... Zhang Di's spiritual world completely collapsed.
For nearly 9 years, Zhang Di stayed at home, did not contact and communicate with the outside world, and even did not speak to parents and children, lying in bed every day, with a confused face.
"Before the paralysis, I was a fitter, and the salary at that time was nearly 3,000 yuan, which was more than the income of many small partners around me, and I was full of expectations for the future, however, I suddenly became a disabled person who could not even take care of myself, and the cement steps that had been easily crossed had become an insurmountable mountain." This contrast is hard for me to accept, and for a long time, I hardly communicated with anyone, including parents and sons. Zhang Di said.
This state of affairs has continued until 2019.
In July 2019, Zhang Hongkun, a suspended cadre of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, a member of the Standing Committee of the Nanpi County CPC Committee and a deputy county magistrate, visited the poor and disabled families in Dongtang Family Village, Luguan Township, and when he came to Zhang Di's home, through the introduction of the village cadres, he learned that Zhang Di was a skilled worker when he was young, and suddenly fell ill and caused paralysis, and there were elderly parents and children in primary schools at home, Zhang Di was originally the top pillar of the family, but now he has to rely on the care of his parents to live, and the situation in the family makes this hanzi who was established very stressful, basically with his parents, The child does not talk much, and he gradually loses confidence in life, Zhang Hongkun looks in the eyes and is anxious in the heart.
After returning to the unit, Zhang Hongkun contacted the Ministry of Rights Protection of the China Disabled Persons' Federation and the Beijing New Starting Point Public Welfare Foundation, and initially proposed the concept of the Nanpi Poor Disabled People's Home Barrier-free Environment Renovation Project, and finally coordinated the financial fund of 308,000 yuan, and introduced 200,000 yuan of social donation funds, which was specially used for the barrier-free transformation of poor disabled families, helping 236 disabled families in the county, including Zhang Di, to solve practical difficulties.
Finally, the two steps in front of Zhang Di's house were transformed into a cement ramp 4 meters long and 2 meters wide, and the kitchen was equipped with stainless steel mobile low-level stoves and four rows of handrails. The whole home environment has no obstacles, Zhang Di's life has also changed a lot, more than 9 years, Zhang Di for the first time in a wheelchair "walked" out of the house.
"For a severely disabled person, barrier-free family transformation is not only a transformation of the environment, but also a self-confidence building." Tang Zhanxin, chairman of the Beijing New Beginnings Public Welfare Foundation, said in an interview with the "China Times" reporter that for the disabled, only when the life at home can take care of themselves and act freely, can they dare to go out; only when they go out and have the ability to live independently can they have income; with income, they can further recover and ultimately achieve self-respect, self-love and self-improvement.
Tang Zhanxin, who suffered from a spinal injury that left her lower body paralyzed, was the first wheelchair student since the establishment of Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business. In September 2016, Tang Zhanxin, together with some entrepreneurs and investors, initiated the establishment of the Beijing New Origins Public Welfare Foundation, hoping to provide more professional services for more disabled people through the power of public welfare, and carry out "life reconstruction" to return to society.
For Zhang Di, in the process of transforming the barrier-free environment, the most touching thing for him was the moment he saw Tang Zhanxin.
"As a disabled person, Sister Zhan Xin is not only so optimistic, but also can drive around to help others, and from her, I see hope." Zhang Di said that for the sake of his family, he wanted to live again.
Ten years later, hope was rekindled
Barrier-free transformation for poor disabled families can not only facilitate their living and improve their quality of life, but also improve the economic situation of disabled families, which is the first step for severely disabled people to achieve poverty alleviation.
Zhang Di, who "walked" out of the house again, wanted to support the home with his own hands.
Zhang Hongkun heard that Zhang Di had engaged in welding work, and in October 2019, he contacted Zhu Yusen, general manager of Nanpisen Dry Metal Products Co., Ltd., a fellow villager of Zhang Di, hoping that he could help Zhang Di find a job. According to the reporter's understanding, Zhu Yusen is an entrepreneur with a right leg and physical disability, who not only faces life with the belief of self-improvement, but also bears the employment of many disabled people.
His Senqian Metal Products Co., Ltd. has an annual output value of 7.5 million yuan, pays taxes of 240,000 yuan, and its business scope involves hardware stamping parts, auto parts, chassis cabinets, plastic products, etc. It is such an enterprise, with a total of 65 employees, of which nearly 20 disabled people have been placed, and more than 50 disabled people have been employed in the surrounding areas.
In this way, Zhang Di finally had a job, and at the same time, due to physical reasons, he could take the hardware home for welding, and once he entered the aisle of the courtyard door, it became Zhang Di's studio.
"In the case of living every day, I can have an income of about 1500 yuan a month, compared to the small partners around me, although my income is minimal, I feel that every day is fulfilling." Nowadays, I can not only skate in a wheelchair to boil water and cook, but also earn money at home to support my family, when I am not busy, I will also take my mobile phone to do some live broadcasting, more contact with the outside world, this day is more hopeful. Zhang Di told reporters that his current income, in addition to giving some to his parents, the rest is saved and reserved for his son to go to school.
Just in the Spring Festival of 2020, Zhang Di wrapped a big red envelope for the first time and gave it to his nephew, which was the salary of 1,000 yuan that he had just received.
People in the village said that Zhang Di now loves to smile and will take the initiative to greet them, and when they see Zhang Di's changes, the people in the village are happy for him. In the face of Zhang Di's changes, the happiest person is his mother. According to the reporter's understanding, for many years, Zhang Di's mother was worried about her son's suffocation, and had tried to push Zhang Di out for a walk many times, but they all gave up because of Zhang Di's excessive emotions, and the two women often had to fight because of this.
"Now, my son is really completely different from before, before, he locked himself in the house every day, no one came to talk, rarely saw him laughing, I was a mother in the eyes, the pain was in the heart, but there was no other way." You look at it now, I can talk to anyone for half a day, and I feel like my son is alive again, and my sunny son is back. Zhang Di's mother, while holding the reporter's hand tightly, choked up and said that as long as her son is well, this family has hope.
According to the reporter's understanding, Zhang Di has been living with his son with his parents after being paralyzed, his father Zhang Hongbo occasionally works part-time to subsidize the family, and his mother takes care of Zhang Di and his children at home.
Seeing the reporter, Zhang Di's 11-year-old son told reporters with a small face and pride, "My father is now more and more talkative and better." ”
At the end of the interview, Zhang Di excitedly told reporters that he is currently teaching himself some computer graphics and other technologies, hoping that there will be more room for development in the future.
Poverty alleviation precedes aspirations, and prosperity precedes the treatment of the heart. Barrier-free transformation helped Zhang Di go out of the house, and the work income allowed Zhang Di to find a sense of existence and self-worth, which were like two "golden keys" that opened Zhang Di's heart and rekindled his hope for life.
Editor-in-Charge: Yunxi Xu Editor-in-Chief: Chen Yanpeng