A Tibetan woman is learning weaving. [Photo/China Tibet Online]

Referring to the women's weaving factory in Gontod Village, Lhoka Prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region, the locals will think of Sonam Chodron.

When elected as director of Gontod Village Committee in 2008, Sonam Chodron found that most women in the village always stayed at home in order to take care of kids and the aged people, and had no chance to make money.

"Why cannot women make money and be independent like men through hard work?" this question haunted Sonam Chodron and she tried to change this situation. At the end of 2008, she made a bold decision: establish the first women's weaving factory in Gontod Village to provide an opportunity for women to make money at home.

Thanks to her competent work in the Gontod Village Committee, Sonam Chodron got villagers' strong support. She borrowed 1000 yuan from the village committee to purchase wools for these women. Then she went tirelessly around to advertise the Tibetan tapestry woven by local women, hoping to gain popularity.

Sonam Chodron's hard work paid off at last. Gontod Village built four weaving workshops and purchased equipments with financial supports of some enterprises. The local People's Government provided wools for them by sheep-breeding project and also organized them to such places as Chanang and Nedong to learn weaving techniques. This was how a nascent weaving factory began to rise in this unimpressive village.

With the factory on track gradually, Sonam Chodron began to think about another question: how to establish a management system based on rural women's family situation and get them involved in management and supervision?

By learning from investigation and experience, she established sick leave system, quarter shift system as well as reward and punishment system. The flexible systems arouse women's initiative, and the scientific management style makes the women’s weaving factory a well-known base to get rich.

Sonam Chodron has sacrificed a lot for her dream to make the village women financially independent. With no time to take care of kids, Sonam Chodron has to entrust her kids to her mother. Her husband also works away from home most of the year, and all housework is done by her cousin.

"My family's understanding and support give me great initiative, and I feel indebted to them," said Sonam Chodron, " Spring is approaching. My fondest hope is to find a good market for these products, expand the factory, diversify the products and provide accesses to more women from nearby villages."