"My dream is to be a useful person who is helpful to others even though I am disabled," said Zhuang Meifeng, who is known as the "matchmaker on a wheelchair."

Zhuang, 58, was born in Southeast China's Fujian Province and suffered from cerebral palsy caused by a high fever at a young age. Zhuang's hands and lumbar vertebra were deformed and two legs atrophied.

Zhuang taught herself primary and middle school courses and earned an associate degree and certification as a marriage counselor and psychological counselor.

In 1976, 15-year-old Zhuang came to Wuhan, capital city of Central China's Hubei Province, from her hometown of Putian, a city in Fujian. She found that marriage was very difficult for disabled people, even though there was a huge demand. One problem was that marriage agencies usually charged high fees.

Therefore, she came up with an idea of setting up a marriage agency for disabled people. In 1998, she opened the "Hongqiao Hotline" for the disabled.

The hotline receives up to 80 phone calls every day. Even some physically healthy people from some counties in Wuhan call Zhuang for help, and she receives letters from many regions of the country asking for her matchmaking guidance.

"Disabled people should not abase oneself and should have the confidence and courage to pursue love. After married, couples should understand each other and communicate well. I am happy to do things for them," she said.

"When I see the happy faces of disabled people, I think that all the hard work I've done is worth it," Zhuang added.

Zhuang also established a charity program with local news media, donating articles for daily use for a school in Tibet Autonomous Region.

"I have seen many disabled people get married due to the effort of Zhuang and they are living happy lives now. I think she has been doing a meaningful thing," Zhang's husband Li Guocai said.

Zhuang found that disabled people looking for help for their marriage often have some psychological problems. Therefore, she came up with the idea of obtaining a psychological counselor certificate. To get the certificate, she studied at the Open University in Wuhan with the support of the local disabled persons' federation and the local community.

In June 2018, she graduated from the university. She then obtained an International Certified Counselor Certificate from the American Professional Education Institute in March 2019 and in April added a certificate of Marriage and Family Counseling.

Zhuang said that thanks to her husband's support and understanding, she achieved success in life and work; more importantly, she has benefited from the support of the Party and the government. In 2012, Zhuang joined the Communist Party of China.

Over the past 21 years, the "Hongqiao Hotline" has provided matchmaking service for more than 20,000 disabled people, achieved 508 successful marriages and provided psychological consultation to 1,200 disabled people.

Besides the "Hongqiao Hotline," Zhuang also chats with disabled people on the Internet to encourage them to be optimistic and active.

This year, she plans to offer pre-marital training courses, using her 20 years of experience and inviting medical experts to provide guidance to unmarried youth.

(Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China)