"I have 24 credits. After I attend a volunteer activity this week, I will have enough credits to get laundry detergent at the supermarket," says one person. "My family has earned many credits, as we have kept our house clean and tidy. I redeemed the credits for a washbasin at the supermarket," comments another. "I have won credits for filial piety. We can redeem the credits for daily necessities at the supermarket. It is a good activity," says a third person. Those were some of the comments heard from residents of a village, in Northwest China's Gansu Province, as they chatted together one day.

They were discussing a project that was launched in the province, in 2018, by Gansu Women's Federation. The purpose of the project is to give full play to the unique role of women, and families, in rural governance, building family civilization and building a beautiful countryside. The project is also intended to encourage women to participate in improving the living environment and help make villages cleaner and more beautiful.

Women are given credits to reward them for their virtues and good deeds; for example, having good family relations, maintaining good relationships with neighbors, participating in volunteer activities, and keeping their houses and courtyards clean and beautiful. 

When they accumulate enough credits, they can redeem the credits for daily necessities at the special supermarket established under the project. The cost of the goods and tools at the supermarket is indicated by credits. For example, a bowl is worth five credits, a pot is worth 15 credits, and a pot of green plants is worth 30 credits.

Women's federations, at all levels in the province, have integrated implementation of the project with efforts to alleviate poverty and promote rural revitalization. 

In Zhangye, women's federations have held training sessions in agricultural skills, handicraft skills, e-commerce and domestic services, and they have organized skills competitions. Women's progress and achievements during the training sessions and competitions can be converted into credits, and the women can redeem the credits, for what they need, at the supermarket.

In Jiuquan, Suzhou Road Community has organized regular activities to select role models in the community, and the role models are entitled to choose products at the supermarket using their credits.

In Jinchuan District and Lanzhou New District, both in Jinchang, the supermarkets provide "shared products" to residents, where residents can borrow ladders or other tools as needed.

In Zhangxian County, in Dingxi, Zhangxian Women's Federation puts the needs of the people first, and makes sure people can redeem the credits for what they really need in daily lives.

With the concerted efforts of women's federations in Gansu, the project has attracted the wide participation of women, and it has been recognized by women and their families. It has been selected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, National Rural Revitalization Administration, and the ACWF as a typical project, in terms of rural governance.

Photo Supplied by Gansu Women's Federation

(Women of China English Monthly January 2023 issue)