The selection was initiated by the Beijing Women's Federation, aiming to congratulate the women who have succeeded in their own enterprises, and encourage those who are still struggling with poverty to learn from them.

Although now chosen as examples for all rural women in Beijing, the "stars" are still like their peers. But they have managed to establish both confidence and careers through years of arduous persistence.

Among them are vegetable sellers, the owner of a diary and the manager of a food company.

"I never thought I would be a 'star,'" said Yang Xiuling, chairwoman of Jinfeilong Clothing, who made her first products - a thousand quilt slips - on several old pedal-powered sewing machines.

In her first deal, Yang had no idea of what a trademark was. But these days her company pays tax of about 300,000 yuan (US$36,232) annually.

Two representatives of the award-winners delivered touching speeches, vividly reproducing the hardships that they had to endure during their pioneering work.

Although having shaken off poverty, the entrepreneurs have not forgotten the millions of women who are still suffering from impoverishment in the countryside.

At the end of the ceremony, they donated 101,000 yuan (US$12,198) to the Beijing Charity Association, which will setup a fund especially for poor rural women, to encourage them to begin their own careers.

They also signed a proposal, promising to extend a helping hand to all other rural women who are caught in poverty.

(China Daily August 2, 2004)