89-year-old grandma in Chongqing helps neighbors increase income

(ECNS) -- A creative grandmother is helping her neighbors increase their incomes by making handicrafts such as bead chains and embroidery.

Zhou Youyu, 89, is the sponsor of a handicraft workshop in a Chongqing neighborhood.

"I used to work in an embroidery factory in Chongqing, and have decades of experience in knitting and embroidery. After I moved to this neighborhood, I found that there are some low-income people so I wanted to help them with my specialties," said Zhou.

"I taught them to make things like cross-stitch works and bead purses at the beginning, and then more and more learners were attracted here, so we set up a workshop with the help of the community," said Zhou.

The workshop opened officially in 2017 and most students are residents of the community. "This is the first community of public rental housing in Chongqing, and grandma Zhou has not only enriched these people's daily lives but also increased their incomes. Our community has also showed support for them by providing space and materials for them,” said Ma Qin, a community staff member.

Zhou divided her students into several groups according to their proficiency levels. "All the shapes are my ideas. It took me one or two days to finish it at first. Now it only takes me half an hour sometimes," said Zhou.

In order to teach residents more skills, Zhou keeps learning despite her advanced age. She buys books on rope weaving skills such as Chinese knots and bracelets to teach her students.

Practical handicrafts like baskets and purses and delicate embroideries have attracted many residents. Now she has 30 regular students. Some residents even earn money by selling these handicrafts.

"Some deft hands who learned from Zhou also give lectures here. People are weaving out a happy life through these inheritable skills," said Ma.