Help for girl who wrote ‘saddest essay ever’
Print Edition
OFFICIALS in southwest China’s Sichuan Province said they are working to help a 12-year-old girl, whose homework essay about her mother’s death grabbed national attention.
The 300-word essay by Muku Yiwumu, of the Yi ethnic minority in Liangshan, has led to an outpouring of compassion and prompted reflection on China’s fight against poverty.
“My father died four years ago,” is the opening sentence.
It goes on to say there was no money available to treat Muku’s mother when she fell sick. After one day in hospital, her mother pleaded to return home.
“I took my mom home before cooking for her. Sadly, I found her dead when dinner was ready,” Muku writes.
Posted online by a volunteer teacher, “Tear” has gone viral on a microblog, where it was described as “the saddest essay ever.”
Web users said they were saddened to read such a tragic story in a child’s school essay.
The government of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture confirmed that Muku, a primary school student from Yuexi County, lost her father in 2011 and mother in 2013.
She has four brothers and sisters, who are under the care of their grandparents.
It promised to step up relief efforts for Muku’s family. They have received 3,500 yuan (US$560) a month in subsidies since last October, said officials.
A website launched an appeal for children in Liangshan and 470,000 yuan had been collected by noon yesterday.
China has lifted 600 million people out of poverty in the past 15 years, yet there are still 70 million poverty-stricken people in rural areas, figures show.
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