In August in Guangzhou, at the Qizhi Table Tennis Exchange and Service Center in Panyu District, children sweated through their clothes as they practiced table tennis, while Li Shangmei, a "post-90s" head of the center, guided them attentively. This Guangzhou-born girl, who studied dance and has overseas educational experience, resigned from her job four years ago to devote herself to public welfare, providing free support for 10 children from mountainous areas and teaching them table tennis.

Li Shangmei helped poor students with her mother when she was in primary school and she often volunteered to teach art at the university. Because of her love for China's national sport and the desire to pass it on, she brought 10 children from places such as Meizhou City and Guizhou Province to Guangzhou, relying on the "Table Tennis Enlightenment" project in 2021. At first, she faced skepticism from parents and financial difficulties, so she invested all her savings and opened a restaurant to supplement her income. Her mother even sold her house to support her.

When the children first arrived in Guangzhou, they often cried from homesickness. Li and her fellow teachers stayed with them around the clock, helping them adapt. Now, the children not only train hard in table tennis but also go to school, learn classical Chinese poetry, and practice etiquette. Nine-year-old Chen Yiyan thinks Li is "like a mother," and children like Li Jingxian begin to stand out in competitions, winning multiple championships at the 2024 Guangzhou Primary and Secondary School Table Tennis Tournament.

Li admits that public welfare is difficult, but she feels gratified when she sees the children grow up. She hopes that they can acquire essential life skills regardless of whether they pursue a career in sports, and she calls for more people to join in, helping the children step onto a bigger stage.

“90后”广州女孩的乒乓“育才”路：卖掉城中一套房，教会山里十个娃

8月广州，番禺启志乒乓球交流服务中心内，孩子们汗透衣衫练球，“90后”负责人黎尚美一旁细心指导。这位学舞出身、留过学的广州女孩，辞掉工作投身公益四年，免费供养10名山区孩子，教他们打乒乓球。

黎尚美小学时随母帮扶贫困生，大学常参与艺术支教，因热爱“国球”且想传承，2021年依托“国球启志”项目，从梅州、贵州等地带出10个孩子。起初遭家长质疑、资金紧张，她投入全部积蓄，开餐馆补贴，母亲还卖房支持。

孩子们初到广州常因想家哭闹，黎尚美与老师陪他们吃住，帮其适应。如今，孩子们不仅苦练球技，还上学、学古诗和礼仪。9岁的陈怡嫣称她“像妈妈”，李静娴等孩子更在赛事中崭露头角，获2024年广州市中小学生乒乓球赛多项冠军。

黎尚美坦言公益艰难，但看到孩子成长很欣慰。她希望孩子无论是否走体育路，都能掌握生存本领，也盼更多人加入，帮孩子们走向更大舞台。

文｜记者 丰西西 郭思琦
图｜记者 曾育文（单独署名除外）
翻译｜盛嘉
审校｜林佳岱