A college admission notice designed by Southeast University in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, has become an object of admiration of Chinese netizens, as it contains a handmade card holder using elements of Yi embroidery.

The three card holders with different patterns embroidered on them were made by women embroiderers of the Yi ethnic group in Nanhua County, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The handiworks were randomly placed in the admission notices.

Photo shows an admission notice designed by Southeast University in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. [Photo courtesy of Southeast University]

The university has been providing pairing assistance for Nanhua County since 2013. Over the past 10 years, it has helped the county get out of poverty by developing its embroidery industry. Many local villagers have found jobs in the trade.

With the university's help, Nanhua County was given approval to build an embroidery workshop for women with disabilities in 2023.

Zheng Xianmei, a woman born with a hearing impairment, had previously encountered difficulties finding a job. After receiving embroidery skills training, Zheng became able to support herself. In 2022, Zheng won first prize in an embroidery contest during a vocational skills competition for people with disabilities in Yunnan.

Photo shows an admission notice designed by Southeast University in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. [Photo courtesy of Southeast University]

Over the past 10 years, Southeast University has helped train over 3,000 embroiderers, including hundreds of people with physical disabilities. Qu Xu, an associate professor of Southeast University who is currently deputy county mayor of Nanhua, said top embroiderers can earn between 6,000 and 7,000 yuan (about $977.61) a month.

A woman embroiders in a workshop in Nanhua County, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. [People's Daily Online/Cheng Hao]

In 2022, which marked the 120th anniversary of Southeast University, the university held an exhibition on Yi embroidery, promoting the craft among the university's alumni. The university also helped build partnerships between Nanhua County and enterprises founded by the university's alumni.

In recent years, the Yi embroidery industry in Nanhua County has developed rapidly. In 2022, the sales volume of Yi embroidery works in the county hit 34.89 million yuan.

A woman promotes a Yi embroidery product during livestream in Nanhua County, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. [People's Daily Online/Cheng Hao]

(Source: People's Daily Online)