EASEN's Candy Wang Organizes Women’s Empowerment and Embroidery Training Sessions in Xinjiang, China

JULY 12, 2012: Easen International’s Social, Ethnic Minority, and Gender Development Specialist, Candy Wang, conducted household surveys and embroidery training workshops among local women and young girls of Turpan City, Xinjiang Province in the People’s Republic of China. The sessions are a part of EASEN’s cooperation with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) RETA-6143 Loan: Promoting Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Subproject for Turpan Women’s Ethnic Minority Cultural Tourism Development which aims to improve the living standards of the local ethnic minority women and help develop small-scale cultural heritage business.

As a part of the small business and embroidery training program, Ms. Wang visited a local embroidery specialist who organizes a free workshop to teach young girls embroidery skills during their summer holiday. Over 60 girls between the ages of 4 to 15 participated in the workshop. Similar training models will be held throughout Turpan and surrounding villages.

During the training sessions, the Turpan Municipal government set up exhibition centers to showcase the embroidery and teach tourists about the training programs. These centers also provide a location for the trainees to sell their products and promote local tourism to surrounding areas such as Sugong Tower and Grape Valley Resort.