Zhang Jiazhen was born in Shenyang City in northeast China's Liaoning Province. He is an international martial arts champion and won second place in a "Brilliant Chinese" talent show. Zhang also has another unique identity — a volunteer martial arts teacher in Tibet, where the Tibetan orphans call him "dad".

Since 2012, Zhang has taught martial arts to nearly 1,000 orphans in China's Tibet Autonomous Region. He expresses Confucianism through voluntary work to pass on traditional Chinese culture, including benevolence, righteousness, politeness, intelligence and trust, the five constants, and the invariable truths that need to be upheld in daily living.

"Learning martial arts during my childhood was out of love. When I grew older, I continued to practice martial arts as an act of honor. Now I learn it for its heritage," said the volunteer teacher.

Zhang's mom passed away when he was 15 years old, when he began to learn kung fu at a martial arts school to be strong and independent, and started sharing responsibility with his father. After more than 10 years of training, he became a rising martial arts star.

An occasional show changed his life. In 2012, Zhang performed at a public welfare school in Beijing. "Our paths crossed," said Zhang. He and his first group of Tibetan students learning martial arts established a connection.

"These students had a very vague impression of martial arts. After I finished my performance, the children's curiosity in and eagerness towards learning martial arts deeply touched me," Zhang recalled.

This pushed him to teach children martial arts at the school, and he became the head teacher for a class of 15 Tibetan orphans. Xire Duoji, one of the 15 Tibetan children, said he not only studied martial arts with his "dad," but also learned how to be a useful person for himself, and the society with the instruction of Zhang and the school.

Five years later, all 15 Tibetan orphans in his class became college freshmen. Now he has a new dream after seven years of volunteer work. Zhang wished that all his 15 Tibetan students would return to the welfare house in their hometown to be volunteer teachers working with him.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Zhang planned to lead Tibetan orphans to perform "Youth of China", a martial arts show in front of the Potala Palace. All 15 of his Tibetan students came back to Lhasa and reunited with Zhang, teaching kung fu to over 50 Tibetan orphans for nearly a month. 

The purpose of volunteer work for Zhang  is about not only disseminating martial arts culture but also expressing the spirit of kindness to children. "Everyone has strengthens. Pass yourself advantage on people in need, which is the spirit of love," said Zhang.

Zhang said "What children have brought to us is much more than what we have given them". He has witnessed these children's inner power through his journey as a volunteer teacher. "Every child has hidden potentials. It's up to us to lead and motivate them," he said. 

On August 8, 2019, Zhang Jiazhen led his 15 volunteer undergraduates and over 50 Tibetan orphans from children's welfare homes in Tibet to successfully perform the show "Youth of China" before the Potala Palace. Zhang believes that education can change a child's life. A child has the right to equal education regardless of his or her family background.

Zhang continues to work on his martial arts volunteer project after seven years, practicing his faith of inheriting the spirit of kindness. As well as Tibet, he will launch more campaigns in the provinces of Sichuan, Qinghai, Yunnan and Guizhou.

"I hope the spirit of marital arts will motivate more Tibetan youth to constantly improve themselves, be kind and make progress. The seed of the spirit of kindness has taken root, sprouted and bloomed in the plateau region," said the volunteer teacher.

Directors: Mi Xue, Fu Gaoliang

Editor: Mi Xue

Filmed by Fu Gaoliang

Designer: Xue Cheng

Text by Mi Xue

Copy editor: Nadim Diab

Producer: Wen Yaru

Chief editors: Lin Dongwei, Pei Jian

Supervisor: Pang Xinhua