OREANDA-NEWS. November 27, 2013. Citibank (China) Co. Ltd. ("Citi China") and Community-Based Conservation and Development Research Center of Guizhou ("CCDRC") announced the achievements of a three-year household enterprise support program known as "Guizhou Indigenous Craftwork Development Program " at Guiyang Art Museum.

The announcement was made together with the launch of an exhibition themed "2013 Absolute Guizhou Cultural Week" and a charity bazaar, both of which are part of results from the program. Andrew Au, Chairman and CEO of Citi China, Professor Ren Xiaodong, Executive Director of CCDRC, joined local government officials, indigenous artisans, program key stakeholders, and villagers at the event.

Made possible by a Citi Foundation grant, the Guizhou Indigenous Craftwork Development Program started in 2010. The aim of the program was to increase income levels of impoverished rural artisan household enterprises in Guizhou Province by enhancing their production and marketing skills of traditional handicraft as well as to protect and inherit the traditional culture the handicraft imbedded in. Through strong collaboration amongst corporations, grass-root non-profit organizations and government, the program sought to create a sustainable development model for impoverished villages to reap triple goals: economic, environmental and social benefits.

Andrew Au said: "We are pleased to support this program for the fourth consecutive year. Guizhou is an important part of Citi's network within China, and we hope to help ensure the sustainability of its economy and the prosperity of the community in a positive, effective and suitable way. This is why we chose to help them promoting Guizhou Miao traditional handicrafts, a national cultural heritage with important artistic and market value."

Professor Ren Xiaodong added: "The project bridged the gap between craftwork artisans and market demand by means of supporting the local cultural heritage, calling on partnerships with corporations, and building the capabilities in ethnic minority areas. The program has not only increased household enterprises' income in a sustainable yet environmentally-friendly way, but also formed a stronger cultural identity among villagers. We are extremely grateful to Citi Foundation for supporting the project and developing the Guizhou community."

Danzhai County is one of the most poverty-stricken counties in China with an average annual income per capita below 2,300 Renminbi (USD372) in its poorest villages. The Guizhou Indigenous Craftwork Development Program was jointly implemented by CCDRC and the Xiaomei Interview of Guizhou Daily in seven Miao villages of the Danzhai County, and funded by Citi Foundation.

Seven cooperative communities have since been established, holding trainings in skills and production for over 300 craftwork artisans, and enhancing handicraft quality and artisan's productivity while remaining environmentally friendly. With the establishment of sales centers, the craftwork artisans are  able to negotiate for better prices, expand sales channels to new markets, which has raised income levels of more than 2000 household enterprises (7000 individuals) by 30-40% year-over-year.

Furthermore, the program also collaborates with the Shenghua Vocational College and the "Absolute Guizhou" design team to spur skill development and product design of cooperative communities, established an integrated platform composed of sector stakeholders, academia, and researchers or institutes to advance the ethnic cultural heritage and economic development. Through activities such as online charity bazaar, publication of a book "Blue Flower Stories", and a Cultural Week, the program raised the public awareness of original ecological and cultural heritage. In 2012, the program won the first China Charity Festival Award and Shanghai Rotary Club Leadership Award.