US teacher meets Chinese woman whose afforestation campaign he supported with $5,000

Retired American teacher Ronald Sakolsky met Yin Yuzhen, a Chinese participant in the fight against desertification, on August 23 in Ordos, in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. More than a quarter-century ago, he raised $5,000 to support an afforestation campaign that Yin conducted together with her husband. The meeting took place at Ordos Ejin Horo International Airport.

As ECNS reports, their story began in 1999, when Sakolsky taught English at a school in Henan Province under a China-US teacher exchange program. After watching a television report about Yin Yuzhen's work, he raised funds for her tree-planting campaign.

Funds for saplings

According to the outlet, Yin Yuzhen spent almost the entire amount on purchasing saplings. She kept one $1 banknote as a souvenir. ECNS notes that the trees planted thanks to these funds have now formed a large forest.

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In May, Yin Yuzhen began publicly searching for Sakolsky, and the search ended successfully. Before the meeting, she prepared English phrases, including “Welcome to China,” “my brother,” and “more, more” — she wanted to offer her guest more food. However, during the meeting, she was unable to say anything, ECNS reported.

Further trip around China

Sakolsky called the reunion “a dream come true” and said that he had not expected to see Yin Yuzhen again. He also said that he wanted to take a tree to the United States, but the law does not allow it. According to him, he intends to take sand with him.

Sakolsky's trip to China will last from August 23 to September 1 at the invitation of the China Education Association for International Exchange. The program includes China-US teacher exchange events, a visit to Henan, meetings with teachers and students at the school where he worked, as well as visits to historical and cultural landmarks.