Ning Youkang: Devoted to the Healthy Growth of Young People with Heart and Passion

“Do not say that the evening is late for the mulberry and elm, for the rosy clouds still fill the sky.” He actively engages in the cause of caring for the next generation, illuminating the path of their growth with ideals and beliefs, warming the hearts of young people in difficult circumstances with love and kindness, and interpreting the original mission of the “Five Olds” with practical actions. He has poured all his energy into nourishing the souls of young people and protecting their healthy growth. His efforts have also contributed to Yingshan’s successful creation of the “National Civilized Etiquette Demonstration Zone,” “National Excellent Parent School Demonstration Zone,” and “National Youth Legal Education Demonstration Zone.” He is Ning Youkang, the Executive Deputy Director of the Yingshan County Committee on the Care for the Next Generation in Nanchong City, Sichuan Province.

In March 2025, Ning Youkang was awarded the title of the 12th “Top Ten Five Olds for Caring for Tomorrow in Sichuan.”

Retired but Not Fading, Contributing to the Cause of Care

Ning Youkang, currently 76 years old, worked in the education sector for 16 years before retirement and was rated as a Special Grade Teacher of Middle School Chinese in 1996. He has successively held positions such as Vice Principal of Yingshan Middle School, Principal of Chengshou Middle School, and part-time Vice Chairman of the County Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of the County People’s Congress. “In 2006, the organization assigned me to contribute to the work of caring for the next generation in Yingshan,” Ning Youkang said. With his passion for education and his desire to help the next generation grow healthily, he took up the responsibility without hesitation. Since 2012, Ning Youkang has served as the Executive Deputy Director of the Yingshan County Committee on the Care for the Next Generation.

“No investigation, no right to speak.” Ning Youkang often conducts in-depth field research, visiting all the townships, communities, primary and secondary schools, and most of the government agencies and enterprises in the county. He has a clear understanding of the relevant work situations. Based on this, he has also guided and promoted the work of “Five Olds” lectures, the standardized construction of parent schools, family-school co-education research, and legal education in schools, making the work of the Committee on the Care for the Next Generation vibrant and effective.

In 2010, Ning Youkang’s health raised a “red flag,” but after treatment and recovery, he actively returned to his post.

“Work on caring for the next generation cannot be slackened. I have served as the advisor to the Yingshan County Committee of the Communist Youth League, as well as an advisor to the Committee on the Care for the Next Generation or the head of the parent committee and an off-campus tutor for more than ten communities and schools,” Ning Youkang said. He never expected that he would work in the Committee on the Care for the Next Generation for 19 years, and he is delighted to be able to contribute his wisdom and strength to this cause.

Sincere Lectures, Cultivating and Educating New People

On March 31, Ning Youkang visited Yingshan Huaying Experimental School and delivered an impromptu speech titled “Learn Solid Skills and Be Heroes of China.” Drawing on stories of historical celebrities, contemporary successful entrepreneurs, and the reading experiences of people around him, he inspired students to set lofty ideals, cherish learning opportunities, maintain the right attitude towards learning, clarify their learning goals, and develop a spirit of hard work and perseverance. He encouraged them to acquire skills to contribute to society and serve their motherland.

More than 1,600 teachers and students listened attentively, taking notes and thinking. That evening, each class held lively discussions and shared their insights. “Grandpa Ning shared his insights and experiences on reading, being a good person, and doing things through storytelling. His speech was very vivid, suitable for students, and had strong appeal and Infectiousness,” said Huang Zhenxi, a student from Class 3, Grade 2 of the school.

Not long ago, Ning Youkang was invited by the Yingshan County College Students’ Union to give a lecture. Huang Li, a member of the Yingshan County College Students’ Union, said excitedly, “We should firm up our ideals and beliefs, draw strength to strive forward, and actively participate in the construction and development of our hometown with our own actions, contributing our wisdom and strength to its prosperity.”

As a member of the provincial committee on the care for the next generation’s “Five Olds” lecture group and a key lecturer of Nanchong’s “Thousand Five Olds Telling Stories,” Ning Youkang has taken the lead in conducting lectures on ideals and beliefs, ideological and moral education, traditional culture, and legal education among young people. Over the past 19 years, he has given more than a thousand lectures in primary and secondary schools, government agencies, townships, and villages (communities) across the county, educating more than 120,000 students and party members and masses.

“His lectures are almost always packed with people and have strong reactions. Sometimes he has to give two or three lectures in a day,” said Xie Ke, Deputy Director of the Office of the Yingshan County Committee on the Care for the Next Generation. He not only lectures locally but also participates in the recording of CCTV-7 programs such as “Military Fans Traveling Around the World” and “Discovering Yingshan,” telling stories of the Red Army’s battles in Yingshan.

In addition, Ning Youkang has led the establishment of a “Five Olds” lecture group, held training classes, and given demonstrations to continuously improve the lecturing skills of the group members. He has also led the careful compilation of lecture materials on red culture and local culture, such as the “A Century of Journey Casting Glory” history of the Party, “The History of the Struggle in the Yingshan Revolutionary Old District,” and “Yingshan Ancient and Modern,” to deepen and solidify the lecture work. Under his influence, the number of “Five Olds” lecturers in Yingshan County has reached more than 500, and the “Five Olds” lecture work is at the forefront of the city.

Alleviating Difficulties with Love, Doing Practical Things Wholeheartedly

Ning Youkang has utilized his extensive connections to widely seek donations and assistance from all sectors to support education and help those in need. “Fundraising is mainly done through phone calls, and sometimes I visit in person, but I have also encountered many rejections,” Ning Youkang admitted that there are many difficulties in the fundraising process. However, many entrepreneurs not only donate money but also spontaneously invest in educational projects.

It is reported that from 2012 to the present, Ning Youkang has raised more than 80 million yuan in donations and materials, which have been used to alleviate difficulties and support educational causes, helping more than 3,000 children from poor families and left-behind children.

In September 2019, while giving a lecture on the story of the centenarian female Red Army soldier Wang Dingguo at Shuangliu Middle School in Yingshan County, Ning Youkang learned about the situation of a disabled student and immediately provided her with a 2,000-yuan hardship grant. The following year, the student was admitted to Yingshan Middle School with excellent grades. During the County Committee on the Care for the Next Generation’s “Warm Winter Action,” Ning Youkang visited the student at Yingshan Middle School, gave her a 1,000-yuan consolation payment, and encouraged her to study hard and pursue her dreams.

Subsequently, Ning Youkang contacted the Municipal Committee on the Care for the Next Generation to provide a 10,000-yuan grant to help the student complete her high school education. In 2024, the student was admitted to Sichuan Minzu College. “Thank you, Director Ning, for your dedication to the work of caring for the next generation. Without your support and encouragement, there would be no today for my child,” the student’s father said, tears streaming down his face.

In December 2022, a female student from Sanxing Community in Chengnan Subdistrict of Yingshan County faced a difficult situation. Her father suffered from cerebral infarction and liver cirrhosis, and her mother had breast cancer, which made the family’s situation even worse. The girl, who was in the second year of junior high school, lost interest in studying and was at risk of dropping out. Upon learning of the situation, Ning Youkang gave her clothes, sports shoes, and daily necessities and raised medical funds for her mother in various ways. He also helped her mother obtain a hardship grant and successfully undergo surgery.

In addition, Ning Youkang frequently visited the girl, patiently teaching her to study hard and change her destiny through knowledge. In September 2023, the girl was admitted to the Sichuan Provincial Civil Affairs Cadre School. “Thank you, Grandpa Ning! I will study hard, and when I start working in the future, I will definitely pass on the baton of love!” the girl said gratefully.

Honors are the Best Rewards for Hard Work

In recent years, Ning Youkang has successively been rated as an advanced individual in the work of caring for the next generation in Sichuan Province, an advanced retired cadre in the province, and one of the top ten “Five Olds” in the third session of Nanchong City’s care for the next generation.

“Working on caring for the next generation, my greatest feeling is: busy but happy. It feels good to do something for the children. Seeing the smiles on their faces makes me feel very gratified,” Ning Youkang said. He added that being awarded the title of “Top Ten Five Olds for Caring for Tomorrow in Sichuan” is both an honor and an encouragement. “As long as my heart is still beating, I will keep fighting for the cause of caring for the next generation!”

(Peng Jie)