Care rekindles the flame of hope

Through the efforts of a strong anti-poverty work group stationed in Lintong District, Xi’an, capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, local residents have been able to free themselves from poverty and can welcome a more prosperous lifestyle. Thanks to the approach adopted by its twin Chan-Ba Ecological District (CBED).

It was one day in June that Li Dong came to visit the poor household of Feng Zhifa in Tuqiao. Li, a cadre from the CBED, had volunteered to participate in the cross-district poverty reduction program, while Feng, 80, lived alone in a dilapidated house in the locality.

In search of better jobs and in the hope of escaping poverty, Feng’s own family have all moved out. It is impossible for them to shuttle back and forth between two distant places in order to take better care of their elderly relative.

People who live alone are more likely to be poor, says Li, and they become more likely to fall into poverty the longer they live alone.

Later in June, Li reported Feng’s situation to the local government, which confirmed several day later that it had validated and updated Feng’s information. The government also said it was set to renovate rows of dangerous houses in the community. It is very probable that Feng, together with some of his neighbors, will be relocated to a safer accommodation later this year, says Li.

When Li came to visit Feng, he would stay there for a whole day. He would help Feng buy food and clean up his room, and also have a heart-to-heart talk that has built a deeper connection in their relationship.

When Feng revealed his wish to travel to Xi’an Expo Park, Li sought the permission of his family and now plans to take Feng there this autumn.

This is another example of how poverty had robbed an elderly man of hope, but Li, a messenger of care, has brought it back into Feng’s life again.