Kim Yeshi facts for kids

Kimberly Sciaky Yeshi is a French-American anthropologist. An anthropologist is a scientist who studies human societies and cultures.

Helping Communities with Yak Wool

In 2005, Kim Yeshi started looking into yak wool. She was interested because it is very soft and warm. With help from her daughter, Dechen, she opened a workshop in Zorgey Ritoma, Amdo, in 2007. This project created many jobs for people living in the area.

Creating New Opportunities

The workshop began as a way to use local resources. It also aimed to build a lasting industry. Many nomads in the region had few animals. Others wanted different job options besides herding. This project gave them work in their own villages. They did not have to move to big cities to find jobs.

Dechen, her husband Yidam, and three team members traveled to Cambodia and Nepal. They studied different weaving and spinning methods. They bought weaving equipment in Katmandu. This equipment was then brought to Ritoma. Local nomads were hired and trained. They quickly became skilled artisans.

A Project Featured on TV

Tianjin Satellite Television made a documentary about their efforts. It showed how they trained the local nomads. The workshop now employs over 100 workers. Most of them have worked there since 2008.

To keep the products traditional, no fake dyes are used. Also, no bleaching is done. Yeshi got natural dyes from Switzerland. These dyes create colors found in the beautiful landscape of Tibet.