Nong Jiagui became the first and only teacher in an isolated village designated as the treatment center for people with leprosy in Southwest China’s Yunnan province in 1986. From then on, he never left his students despite the shortage of educational resources and the outside world’s fear of the infectious disease. Over the past decade, Nong’s school has seen great changes and his efforts have also been recognized. In 2023, he was elected a deputy to the National People’s Congress and he said he is determined to continue his teaching career in the countryside.

Watch the video to learn more about the village teacher’s 37-year commitment to rural education.