Manny, a Ghanaian student at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, offers free English classes to children of medical workers on the frontlines. [Photo/jschina.com.cn]

Manny, a Ghanaian student at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA), has been delivering free online English classes to children of medical workers on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19.

The young man, whose Chinese name is Yao Ming, said this was his way of repaying the Chinese people for all they have given him since he first came to China eight years ago.

"Though I'm not a doctor and cannot save people's lives, I can speak English and am able to teach the children of medical workers," said Manny after learning that his school planned to start offering online tutoring services.

He was randomly matched with Fan Wenxi, a 9-year-old boy, and since then he has been reading English words and stories with his new pupil.

"Fan's younger sister is always annoying him during class, but I can almost taste the joy I've brought to their lives with their parents being thousands of miles away," Manny said.

"Everyone working on the frontlines is a hero and I'm moved by their actions," he added.

Some of Manny's friends asked him why he was tutoring for no pay, to which he replied: "When kids are missing their parents, it's important for them to have someone by their side."

The young man has applied for another online tutoring gig and said he will do everything he can to help China, his home away from home.