When Wu Yaqin began working for a residential community committee in Changchun in 1995, she was surprised to find that her workload was so heavy.

Facilities in the neighborhood needed a complete overhaul and issues, both old and new, had to be resolved.

"I was just 35 and had no experience dealing with these kinds of things, let alone conflicts between couples and neighbors, dealing with unemployment and care for the elderly," said Wu, who is also Party secretary of the community of about 3,100 households.

The Changshan community, located in the capital city of Jilin province, was originally the dormitory for a State-owned metal parts factory.

Wu, a former worker at the factory, has been serving the community for decades. Thanks to her efforts, broken windows, leaking roofs and old houses have been repaired, while playing fields and a tutoring center have been added to serve residents. She even set up a volunteer network to help the community's older and less able residents.

The 60-year-old's dedication has won her several central government awards, including the Star of China's Alley Premier and Role Model of the Times.

"I am the kind of person who tries to do everything the best that I can, and never admits defeat. Despite the difficulties, I chose not to quit because I don't allow people to say anything negative behind my back," she said.

As soon as she stepped into the position, Wu encouraged residents to raise funds to renovate their broken homes and facilities. She also organized Party members in the community to do volunteer work, such as canvassing for opinions and helping others.

Over the years, Wu has worked hard on resolving unemployment in the community.