A 79-year-old granny has been awarded the title of charity ambassador in Jiaozuo, Shandong Province.

Liang Zhiyun has helped more than 200 abandoned children since 1982 as a foster mother. Granny Liang lives on a 156-yuan (US$19) monthly pension. Her husband died in 1992.

She decided to help the local civil administration bureau by taking in children in need of care, receiving just 30 yuan (US$3.60) for each child's monthly living expenses.

The children she has saved from the streets have been sent to orphanages, and finally lead normal lives.

She said, "I see those children as my children. They deserve a good life." Each year, the children come back to visit her, www.southcn.com reports.

(China Daily April 21, 2005)