Sichuan man helps disabled earn a living
By Yao Yao
chinadaily.com.cn, 05-08-2018
Chen and his wife pose for a photo at their shop in Yanmen. [Photo by Duan Jinzhe/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
As the saying goes, that which does not kill us makes us stronger. 41-year-old Chen Shuangcheng, who lost his left leg at the age of 19, now helps people with disabilities in his hometown escape poverty.
The clothes shop Chen runs at Yanmen town in Wenchuan county, Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture in Southwest China’s Sichuan province, focuses on making Qiang ethnic costumes.
“I earned a gross revenue of around 80,000 yuan ($12,566) through selling Qiang ethnic costumes in 2017,” Chen said.
Two workers make Qiang embroidery at Chen’s clothes shop in Yanmen on May 8, 2018. [Photo by Yao Yao/chinadaily.com.cn]
He never thought he would open a clothes shop after graduating from high school at the age of 19 and finding a job at a hydropower station.
After working in the hydropower station for just one month, an accident left Chen with one leg.
“At that time, I felt so hopeless. I did not want to live,” Chen said.
“However, thanks to my family’s and friends’ encouragement, I survived the difficulty and regained my confidence in life,” he added.
Chen Shuangcheng talks with others at his shop in Yanmen town, Wenchuan county, Aba Tibetan and Qiang ethnic prefecture in Southwest China’s Sichuan province on May 8, 2018. [Photo by Yao Yao/chinadaily.com.cn]
In 2006, Chen took part in the Sichuan Games of Disabled Persons held in Chengdu, where he won the men’s singles badminton title. Later, he competed in the badminton event at the games held in 2010 and 2014, winning silver in the latter.
His competition experiences made him realize he was not alone, seeing many disabled people who cherish life and work hard.
Chen opened the clothes shop with his wife Zhu Xiuqiong, who learned how to make Qiang ethnic costumes and the embroidery of the Qiang ethnic group when she was 13 years old.
Life, for a time, was better. However, a magnitude-8.0 earthquake hit the county on May 12, 2008, devastating the town and Chen’s clothes shop.
This time Chen did not lose hope. “The earthquake had influence on me. Many neighbors were distressed, but I felt I had to keep on living since I survived the deadly earthquake,” he said.
Chen’s wife Zhu Xiuqiong poses at their shop in Yanmen on May 8, 2018. [Photo by Yao Yao/chinadaily.com.cn]
Chen and his wife opened a new shop in Yanmen town, Wenchuan county. The reconstruction work after the earthquake provided Chen with some opportunities.
“For example, schools at our county were so seriously damaged that many students arranged to study at schools in cities like Beijing and Shanghai for two or three years. To help the students remember their traditional culture, their parents came to my shop to buy Qiang ethnic costumes for accompany their children when they study in remote cities,” Chen said.
As his life has gradually improved, Chen thought of helping others, especially those who were injured by the disastrous earthquake.
“My wife and I decided to teach disabled people in the town the embroidery of the Qiang ethnic group, so that they can earn a living,” Chen said.
Two dolls wearing Qiang ethnic costumes are displayed at Chen’s shop in Yanmen. [Photo by Yao Yao/chinadaily.com.cn]
In 2016, Chen opened a training workshop, where his wife taught participants embroidery of the Qiang ethnic group for free.
So far, the workshop has been held three times, each time with 30 participants.
After training, seven to eight of the participants work at Chen’s clothes shop and make clothes along with Zhu Xiuqiong, earning between 2,000 and 3,000 yuan each month. Others get embroidery work from Zhu and complete them at home, earning nearly 700 to 800 yuan per month.
Currently, Chen is considering marketing the Qiang ethnic costume, especially the Qiang embroidery, nationwide to let more people know about them and offer a chance to purchase them.
”I will hire dozens of disabled people to help with sales,” Chen said.
By Yao Yao
chinadaily.com.cn, 05-08-2018
Chen and his wife pose for a photo at their shop in Yanmen. [Photo by Duan Jinzhe/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
As the saying goes, that which does not kill us makes us stronger. 41-year-old Chen Shuangcheng, who lost his left leg at the age of 19, now helps people with disabilities in his hometown escape poverty.
The clothes shop Chen runs at Yanmen town in Wenchuan county, Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture in Southwest China’s Sichuan province, focuses on making Qiang ethnic costumes.
“I earned a gross revenue of around 80,000 yuan ($12,566) through selling Qiang ethnic costumes in 2017,” Chen said.
Two workers make Qiang embroidery at Chen’s clothes shop in Yanmen on May 8, 2018. [Photo by Yao Yao/chinadaily.com.cn]
He never thought he would open a clothes shop after graduating from high school at the age of 19 and finding a job at a hydropower station.
After working in the hydropower station for just one month, an accident left Chen with one leg.
“At that time, I felt so hopeless. I did not want to live,” Chen said.
“However, thanks to my family’s and friends’ encouragement, I survived the difficulty and regained my confidence in life,” he added.
Chen Shuangcheng talks with others at his shop in Yanmen town, Wenchuan county, Aba Tibetan and Qiang ethnic prefecture in Southwest China’s Sichuan province on May 8, 2018. [Photo by Yao Yao/chinadaily.com.cn]
In 2006, Chen took part in the Sichuan Games of Disabled Persons held in Chengdu, where he won the men’s singles badminton title. Later, he competed in the badminton event at the games held in 2010 and 2014, winning silver in the latter.
His competition experiences made him realize he was not alone, seeing many disabled people who cherish life and work hard.
Chen opened the clothes shop with his wife Zhu Xiuqiong, who learned how to make Qiang ethnic costumes and the embroidery of the Qiang ethnic group when she was 13 years old.
Life, for a time, was better. However, a magnitude-8.0 earthquake hit the county on May 12, 2008, devastating the town and Chen’s clothes shop.
This time Chen did not lose hope. “The earthquake had influence on me. Many neighbors were distressed, but I felt I had to keep on living since I survived the deadly earthquake,” he said.
Chen’s wife Zhu Xiuqiong poses at their shop in Yanmen on May 8, 2018. [Photo by Yao Yao/chinadaily.com.cn]
Chen and his wife opened a new shop in Yanmen town, Wenchuan county. The reconstruction work after the earthquake provided Chen with some opportunities.
“For example, schools at our county were so seriously damaged that many students arranged to study at schools in cities like Beijing and Shanghai for two or three years. To help the students remember their traditional culture, their parents came to my shop to buy Qiang ethnic costumes for accompany their children when they study in remote cities,” Chen said.
As his life has gradually improved, Chen thought of helping others, especially those who were injured by the disastrous earthquake.
“My wife and I decided to teach disabled people in the town the embroidery of the Qiang ethnic group, so that they can earn a living,” Chen said.
Two dolls wearing Qiang ethnic costumes are displayed at Chen’s shop in Yanmen. [Photo by Yao Yao/chinadaily.com.cn]
In 2016, Chen opened a training workshop, where his wife taught participants embroidery of the Qiang ethnic group for free.
So far, the workshop has been held three times, each time with 30 participants.
After training, seven to eight of the participants work at Chen’s clothes shop and make clothes along with Zhu Xiuqiong, earning between 2,000 and 3,000 yuan each month. Others get embroidery work from Zhu and complete them at home, earning nearly 700 to 800 yuan per month.
Currently, Chen is considering marketing the Qiang ethnic costume, especially the Qiang embroidery, nationwide to let more people know about them and offer a chance to purchase them.
”I will hire dozens of disabled people to help with sales,” Chen said.
