Chinese Man Who Donated US$1.5 to Dam Now Helps Transmit Its Power

Chinese boy who donated US$1.5 to end power cuts now works for energy company

Wang Yu, who donated to China’s Three Gorges Dam project as a child, now works for the power grid and helps transmit the electricity it generates across the country.

A donation made from a small allowance

Wang, 47, works for the State Grid Corporation of China in his hometown of Zigui county, Hubei province, according to Hubei Daily.

His connection to the project began in 1991, when he was 12 years old. At the time, Wang received a daily allowance of just one yuan, barely enough to buy breakfast. His parents earned a combined monthly salary of less than 100 yuan (US$15).

Despite those limited means, Wang donated 10 yuan (US$1.5) to the Three Gorges Dam project in the 1990s. The project was a massive undertaking, and Wang felt that his first contribution was far too small.

He quietly made a second US$1.5 donation shortly after.

The account links Wang’s early contributions to his present work in the power sector. He now helps transmit electricity generated by the dam across the country through his work with the power grid.

Source: South China Morning Post