For about ten years now, teacher Li Congshu of Chongqing, China has been ferrying students to and from the local school as their unofficial designated boatman — he also offers his services for free.
Li’s daily routine involves a 20-minute walk to the pier where his boat is stationed, according to NetEase (via Shanghaiist).
Every school day, the Chinese teacher rows his boat to an area of the reservoir where 13 school kids wearing life jackets are all waiting for him.
The school kids have another alternative, but it’s a lot more strenuous. They can opt to walk to school but it would take them around 2 hours.
Teacher Li’s boat ride only 30 minutes for the kids to reach the school. After a whole day of teaching, Li resumes his duty as the ferryman to take the kids safely back to their homes.
Li, who has been teaching for 30 years, is well loved by the community, with the parents of his students and colleagues commending his hard work and sacrifice.
The Chinese teacher began his selfless task 10 years ago after the water level in Dazu county rose because of the Three Gorges Dam.
The reservoir, considered as the world’s largest power stations, has caused massive flooding to 13 cities, 140 towns and 1350 villages a decade ago, prompting the government to relocate 1.24 million residents to safer locations. The four million people still living near the area are set to be transferred to the main urban area of Chongqing by 2020.
