Laolime Village of Dongshan Yi Ethnic Town in Xiangyun County, Dali

Chinese Name: 大理祥云县东山彝族乡小庄子村委会老里么村(傈僳族)
English Name: Laolime Village (Lisu Ethnic Minority) of Dongshan Yi Ethnic Town in Xiangyun County, Dali

Overview

• Location: Laolime Village is located in the northeast of Xiangyun County, within Dongshan Yi Ethnic Town. It is 120 kilometers from the county seat and 54 kilometers from the town government. The village is situated at the intersection of Chuxiong and Dali states and Xiangyun, Yao'an, and Dali counties, with an average altitude of 1,900 meters.
• Area: 23.98 square kilometers
• Administrative Subdivisions: The village administers five natural villages: Wuxilong, Laolime, Nifangqing, Xiaozhuangzi, and Dalongtan, comprising five village groups.
• Population: The village hosts four ethnic groups: Lisu, Yi, Miao, and Han, with the Lisu people making up over 67% of the population. As of the end of 2016, the village had 148 households and 597 residents.
• Economy: The local economy is based on walnuts, wild mushrooms, and traditional agriculture. Laolime Village is one of Xiangyun County’s 21 designated poverty-stricken villages, with 22 impoverished households totaling 85 people.

Development and Poverty Alleviation Efforts

Initial Challenges

Upon arrival, the work team encountered difficulties due to unclear conditions and challenging working and living environments. They adopted a practical approach, focusing on effective actions rather than superficial measures.

Data Collection and Analysis

Within a month, the team gathered comprehensive data on villagers' needs, thoughts, and expectations. They conducted detailed investigations to understand the basic conditions and living situations of all 148 households.

Strategic Planning

The team worked closely with village leadership to address the poverty alleviation tasks set by the county and town. They aimed to resolve the constraints hindering the village's development and implemented dynamic management of poverty-stricken households.

Meetings and Coordination

Various meetings were held, including county, town, and village level joint meetings, village party committee meetings, villagers' representative meetings, and meetings with household heads of impoverished families. These meetings helped unify thoughts, enhance understanding, and drive progress toward development and poverty alleviation goals.

Key Initiatives

1. Agricultural Development: Provided guidance and support to help villagers develop crop cultivation.
2. Labor Export: Enhanced labor export to increase economic income for impoverished households.
3. Education Support: Identified and supported 12 impoverished students by ensuring they received benefits from poverty alleviation policies and monitored their academic and living conditions.
4. Infrastructure Projects: Coordinated and secured funding for seven infrastructure projects to improve village facilities.
5. Housing Repairs: Focused on repairing houses for seven impoverished households.

Community Engagement

Despite the village’s remote location and harsh conditions, the work team, led by Ziyingde, has remained dedicated to the community. They emphasize genuine engagement with the villagers, sharing in their daily lives and work. Ziyingde expressed that by treating the villagers with sincerity, care, and affection, the challenges faced by the team become manageable, and the villagers view them as family, benefactors, and valued individuals.

Invitation

Laolime Village, with its unique cultural heritage and ongoing development efforts, invites visitors to experience the vibrant traditions of the Lisu people and witness the community’s progress and resilience firsthand.