The story of a young man who returned to his village and established a canteen for its elderly residents has garnered widespread praise online. The reports, published on June 10th and 11th, highlighted the efforts of Zhou Jiankang from Dongqinggou Village, Tonggu Township, Yilong County, Nanchong City.
Alibaba's public welfare initiative, Tian Tian Zheng Neng Liang, in collaboration with the media outlet, has awarded Zhou Jiankang a "Special Award for Small-Scale Public Welfare Actors" and a grant of 10,000 yuan.
Zhou Jiankang is a young entrepreneur who returned to his hometown. With support from the Yilong County Party Committee, County Government, and an East-West collaboration project, he established the canteen for the village's senior citizens, which officially opened on June 9th. The canteen operates six days a week, offering two meals a day for just two yuan per meal. The meals, which include both meat and vegetables, have been warmly welcomed by the elderly.
The award citation from Alibaba's Tian Tian Zheng Neng Liang praised Zhou's journey, noting that seven years ago upon his return to the village, some criticized him for relying on his family. Today, the elderly villagers regard him as one of their own. It stated that he used the money earned from selling plums and building a sausage factory to fund the canteen brick by brick. With meals costing two yuan, a points system for vegetables, and the option to work in exchange for meals, he is not merely providing charity but has created a sustainable community-based elderly care mechanism for the village.
The citation concluded that his seven years of solitude and doubt have been transformed into the warmth of the meals served. His return alone was not the ultimate achievement; the true meaning of coming home lies in ensuring a group of elderly people no longer have to eat alone. His seven years of dedication provide a moving answer to the question of what youth can achieve.
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