Duan Aiping, Party chief of Fandi Village in Xiangyuan County, north China's Shanxi Province, was recently granted the title of National March 8th Red-Banner Pacesetter by the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF). [Women of China/Fan Wenjun]

Duan Aiping, Party chief of Fandi Village in Xiangyuan County, north China's Shanxi Province, was recently granted the title of National March 8th Red-Banner Pacesetter by the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF).

Duan, 60, has served her village for 16 years in the same role and always keeps working even though she is suffering from illness.

Born into an impoverished family, Duan's parents passed away when she was still a child. She married a man with the similar family background at the age of 22.

After the reform and opening up policy was introduced by China in 1978, the woman borrowed a total of 3,000 yuan (U.S. $460) to sell stoves and coal, and help villagers sell grain. Through years of hard work, she finally shook off poverty.

Building a New School

After being elected as the village's Party chief in 2000, she decided to improve the educational facilities. Her first goal was to address the underdevelopment; the primary school had shabby buildings and students had to attend class in villagers' houses.

In 2001, under her leadership, the village started to build a new school. With a lack of funds and labor, Duan paid for materials and worked at the construction site with her family and villagers.

Exhausted, she was overcome by medical complications and underwent surgery at the hospital.

To coincide with the construction of the school, she worked during the day and received transfusions in the evening.

Moved by her selflessness, the villagers also took part in the construction work, and two months later, the new school was finally set up.

In 2007, as the walls of the building were leaking, Duan collected funds through multiple channels and rebuilt another primary school for the students.

Leading Villagers to Develop Production and Get Employment

In 2003, in response to the government's call for adjusting the industrial structure, Duan led the villagers to grow over 13 hectares of plants for Chinese medicine, with each household increasing their annual income by 500 yuan (U.S. $76).

In 2005, she went to the provincial capital of Taiyuan several times to seek agricultural cooperation, and led the villagers to grow over 13 hectares of sweet potatoes and carrots.

Unfortunately, in 2006, she was diagnosed with throat cancer, but after numerous therapies she was not defeated by the illness and is still at work.

Since 2010, she has organized villagers to grow 26 hectares of fruit and develop poultry farming, with each household increasing their annual income by more than 1,000 yuan (U.S. $152).

In 2015, by cooperating with two Chinese medicine companies, the villagers grew more Chinese herbs on over six hectares of land. The farm work has not only increased their income, but also kept them busy during the off season.

In 2015, Duan built a welfare clothing company in the county, solving the employment of more than 50 disabled people.

Meanwhile, she built another clothing company in a township. The company is yet to be put into production, and another over 50 laborers will find employment.

Improving Villagers' Living Conditions

In 2002, under the leadership of the Party chief, the village started to upgrade its power grids. But with the annual electricity bill standing at 14,000 yuan (U.S. $2,100) and high expenses looming, the village had to collect 20,000 yuan (U.S.$ 3,000) for the project.

For the well-being of the villagers, Duan used her own money and collected some more to cover the expenses.

During the next 40 days, she and the villagers worked hard and finally completed the project.

In 2004, she collected a fund of 100,000 yuan (U.S.$ 15,000) to rebuild a nursing home for the elderly in the village.

Since 2010, under her leadership, the village officials collected a total of more than 200,000 yuan (U.S.$ 30,000) to build four kilometers of new roads to improve transportation.

They also invested 150,000 yuan (U.S.$ 23,000) to grow more than 8,000 trees and improve the environment and sanitation in the village.

In 2012, Duan collected 80,000 yuan (U.S.$ 12,000) to install 23 streetlights in each crossing and corner in the village. "Each streetlight was installed where light is badly needed," she said.

In 2014, with an investment of over 500,000 yuan (U.S.$ 76,000), the river regulation work in the village was also finished.

With the joint efforts of Duan and other village officials as well as the villagers, the village has improved its environment and infrastructure dramatically. The villagers have also led a happy and comfortable life.

Due to her outstanding performances in leading the villagers to well-being, she has won numerous awards, such as a Provincial Inspirational Village Official, a National March 8th Red Banner Pacesetter, a provincial and national model worker, and a provincial moral model title.

(Women of China)

Editor: Arnold Hou(Women of China)