"Principal Mom" Gesang Deji

Today, I want to share the story of a mother, a vice-principal, and why her journey resonated with me after I became a mother myself. Gesang Deji grew up in the mountains of Motuo, Xizang. She left home to pursue an education, but chose not to stay in a big city. Instead, she returned to her hometown, becoming a teacher and later the vice-principal of Motuo Complete Primary School. Motuo is often described as one of China's most remote counties, and the last to be connected by a highway. Even today, a 300-kilometer journey into the mountains can take more than 10 hours, winding through steep slopes, clouds and dense forests. That is what makes her decision to return so meaningful. When Gesang Deji first came back, the local school offered only first and second grades. Today, it is a complete primary school, providing education from Grade 1 to Grade 6 across the full curriculum. Behind that change are not only new roads and new classrooms, but also people who chose to stay — teachers, builders and local educators like Gesang Deji. Their commitment has helped open a wider world for children in the mountains. This is the story of Motuo, and of its "Principal Mom". #MediaUnlocked