"Participation in online courses has cost me a lot of money for the payment of phone data service during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Thanks to the assistance of 'Sister Yingzi,' yesterday I received a call from China Mobile, a major telecommunications operator, saying it would send workers to my family to provide me with broadband access as quick as possible," said a college student surnamed Yao from China Three Gorges University in an interview on March 13.

"Sister Yingzi" is Liu Faying, a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) and vice-headmaster of a rural primary school in Longzhouping Town, Changyang Tujia Autonomous County of Yichang City, in Central China's Hubei Province.

Liu became involved in Internet-based charity affairs in 2005. Since then, she has raised funds for local impoverished students and financially helped them to complete their academic studies.

In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, schools and universities in the country have postponed the reopening of their new semester this year and are offering online courses to students at home. However, many students from impoverished families are faced with multiple difficulties such as the absence of a smart phone and lack of access to affordable Internet services. Therefore, efforts to guarantee their access to online courses have been necessary in this special period.

Yao is one such recipient of Liu's assistance. His elderly parents have been unable to work because of poor physical conditions and cannot afford his tuition and basic living expenses.

Learning of the conditions of Yao's family, Liu published his information on her self-founded website in late January and received donations from two warm-hearted individuals from East China's Zhejiang Province and Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality respectively for Yao in February.

In addition, Liu got in touch with local government departments and won their approval to provide Yao with broadband services at a discounted price when she found that he relied on his mobile phone with limited data volume to complete relevant online courses.

As of March 13, Liu had collected a donation of 310,000 yuan (US$ 43,772.9) for 181 impoverished students since the COVID-19 outbreak.

Moreover, Liu volunteered to work at local checkout points, pay home visits to residents, monitor their temperatures, purchase daily necessities for those under quarantine at home, and publicize anti-epidemic knowledge.

"I was elected by the people, so I should fulfill the mission of an NPC deputy. It is my responsibility and duty to extend more love and support to students studying from home and to better serve the public during this special period," Liu said.

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