Zhang Chaofan, 29, was born without a left arm in Changchun Jilin Province. In November, 2021, she was chosen to receive the National Ethical Role Model award (全国道德模范奖) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Over the past six years since 2021, Zhang had given away 1.35 million yuan and raised 5.2 million yuan from the public to help more than 400 people with health problems learn traditional Chinese culture.
In 2015, Zhang set up a handwriting and painting school in Changchun. When she found that some parents were unable to pay for the cost of their children's education, she made the lessons free and began providing 300,000 yuan every year to help them. She said, "I will try my best to help them get enough chances to follow their dreams and encourage them to do their best."
In early 2020, her school was made to suspend (暂停) all courses because of the epdemic (疫情), but it didn't stop her from helping the poor families. Also she raised materials and sent medical masks (口罩) and daily necessities to medical workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. "Women in the new time should have the courage to create value and also have sense of social duty." she said.
"It is my great honor to be chosen as a model. This will become a driving force for me to move ahead and keep helping the poor or the disabled." she said.
