Yin Yuzhen poses for a picture with trees she has planted.
For 26 years, a heartfelt promise forged amid desert sands and young trees has quietly endured across oceans and continents. Now, this long-standing bond has finally been rekindled – first online, and soon, hopefully, with a long-awaited in person reunion.
A touching video recently went viral online. In it, Yin Yuzhen, a national model worker in China who has dedicated decades to combating desertification in Maowusu sandy area, north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, sends a heartfelt message in search of an American friend, hoping he would see the video and come back to China to visit.
The man Yin was searching for is Ronald Sakolsky. Back in 1999, Sakolsky raised $5,000 through a foundation to support Yin's tree-planting work. A year later, he traveled all the way to Maowusu sandy area to meet her in person. Though brief, that encounter left a lasting impression on Yin.
Thanks to widespread support from people across society, this green connection spanning 26 years finally led to a long-awaited reunion online.
