Wu Ruizhou, president of Shenzhen Charity Art Vocational Training School in Longgang District and also a recipient of China’s Good Samaritan honor, said he will ramp up efforts to attract more public attention to education for exceptional children.
Wu’s school helps students learn a skill so that they could make a living and build their confidence in life, Shenzhen Economic Daily reported.
Wu was born to a rural family in Lufeng, Shanwei City in Guangdong Province. When he was little, he borrowed books to learn oil painting techniques on his own.
Wu came to Shenzhen in 1979 to make a living by selling paintings. In 1989, Wu opened an oil painting studio in Dafen, Longgang District. Most of the apprentices recruited by Wu were from poor families. Later in 1994, Wu and his younger brother established an oil painting company to train related talents.
In 2001, a mother came to Wu and asked him to take in her deaf-mute son, identified as Xaio Cai. This has become Wu’s original motivation to set up a special education school.
It is not easy opening a charitable school; and to ensure that the school is a nonprofit, Wu refused all investment interests.
Wu’s wife, daughter and son are supportive of him. Wu’s wife helps cook meals for the students and teachers. Wu’s son teaches at the school after he graduated, while his daughter gave up a chance to study abroad to become the school’s president assistant.