I promote traditional handicrafts in a new way

Life used to be tough for my family and me. I spent years working as a driver, but only earned 1,000 yuan ($154) a year, which was not enough to feed my family.

I was desperate, but things changed when the government awarded me a living allowance in 2015. In the same year, my wife and I were recruited as rangers to guard the streams and woods around our village as a result of preferential employment policies to help impoverished families. The work brings us a stable income of 6,000 yuan a year.

In 2016, the local government moved my family to a new 200-square-meter house, and I received a one-time relocation payment of 130,000 yuan.

The house was not only a new shelter for the family, but also an ideal location to realize my dream of starting a workshop to produce handwoven goods.

However, my family objected to my proposal and the other villagers regarded me as a crank.

I invested the 130,000 yuan in the workshop and also borrowed money from relatives and friends. Eventually, I had 380,000 yuan, which allowed me to open the workshop in November.

The seven employees are impoverished people from my village. They now earn 2,700 yuan a month each.

I have lifted myself out of poverty thanks to government support, and I think I have a responsibility to help my peers escape the hard life.

Next, I plan to recruit several college graduates who will help us to connect the workshop to the world of e-commerce.

Although the workshop is still operating on a trial basis, I am optimistic about its future. I am not only making money, but promoting traditional Tibetan handicrafts and arts in a new way.

Tashi Danzin spoke with Cheng Si.