Guizhou's handicraft project raises 500,000 women out of poverty

The Jinxiu Initiative has helped more than 500,000 women find work and shake off poverty through embroidery. [Photo/ddcpc website]

Southwest China's Guizhou province launched a handicraft project known as the Jinxiu Initiative in 2013, and it has helped more than 500,000 female embroiders increase their incomes over the past eight years.

According to a report released on Sept 27 at the 2021 International Mountain Tourism Conference (IMTC) and the 16th Guizhou Tourism Industry Development Conference, the project has had an output value of 6 billion yuan ($927.93 million) and has helped many Guizhou women develop careers.

In 2013, Guizhou's Provincial Women's Federation and Science and Technology Department invested 3 million yuan to establish a fund for innovation and entrepreneurship among women.

Guizhou also selected the Taijiang, Sandu, Ceheng, Zhijin, Songtao, Zhenning, Rongjiang and Danzhai counties as provincial demonstration counties for the Jinxiu Initiative, and established thousands of handicraft poverty alleviation bases and 1,354 handicraft companies and cooperatives for women.

The Jinxiu Initiative's achievements have received national recognition and were cited in the All-China Women's Federation's report on China's experience in poverty alleviation for women, which was handed to the United Nations.

The Jinxiu Initiative has helped increase women's economic and social status, lifted families out of poverty, and helped rural left-behind women find employment.