Getting Things Done

Enterprising women help locals rise out of poverty by creating new sources of income

- Xia Yuanyuan and Ge Lijun

This year, China expects to complete the goal of poverty alleviation, and meet the poverty reduction targets of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule.

Of the 700 million Chinese lifted out of extreme poverty since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, about half are women. At the same time, women have also been a main force in the battle against poverty.

In this long battle, women have played an integral role in the national campaign on poverty alleviation. Among them are entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and grassroots workers, all committed to the cause of improving the livelihoods of the impoverished.

Role model in wheelchair

In Wudu District of Longnan in northwest China’s Gansu Province, 29-year-old Shi Zaohua and her poverty alleviation workshop team are well known far and near. Through their e-commerce platform, local specialty agricultural crops have been sold to customers across the country.

Now widely regarded as an optimistic and positive person, Shi has managed to come out of her dark days. Seven years ago, she was hit in a car accident, which left her as a wheelchair-bound paraplegic. She subsequently felt that life had lost its

Shi Zaohua (middle) leads her team to promote local agricultural products on live streaming platforms meaning. “For a period of time, I felt my existence had no value, and even thought of giving up my life,” Shi told ChinAfrica.

“I came to believe that when God closes one door, he opens another door for you,” said Shi. And that new door was an introduction to e-commerce. Then she embarked on a new journey of entrepreneurship, which helped her regain hope in life.