A Dollar a Day: Made in China
Story Access to Jobs
Made in China, filmed in China and Minnesota, shows how Access to Jobs is pulling millions out of poverty in China, while changing life in America. In Minnesota some workers seek new jobs while friends return to work in a mine reopened because of demand from China.
About the series A dollar a day
A dollar a day is six-part international series that shows what it means to live under the poverty line. While many people recognize that surviving on a dollar a day is a struggle, very few understand the nature of poverty. In addition poor people are often not recognized for the creativity and resourcefulness they possess. The six episodes of the series revolve around themes, respectively – access to capital, access to markets, access to jobs, access to health care, access to basic needs, access to good governance.
Educational Interest
Each documentary in the A dollar a day series is an excellent resource for individuals and groups that want to learn more about the causes of poverty and what can be done about them.
Social Interest
These programs illustrate that while poor people may lack money, education, security or healthcare, they do not lack creative initiatives, knowledge and willpower. Perhaps the greatest value of this series is that you get to know people who live on a dollar a day. They become real human beings and not just “the poor.” In knowing them you discover that they are not so different from us, because their poverty is largely a result of circumstances beyond their immediate control.
Scenes
China: moving to the city
Chinese country side women are forced to move to the city everyday in the hopes of a better life and money to support their families back home.
History of the US mines
The rise and fall of the United Taconite mines in Minnesota, with the upcoming and expanding Chinese economy as an important factor.
Chinese factory life
The factory employees, mostly girls, have to work hard and the pressure is high. But they are well payed, treated decently and able to make friends for life.
Consequences of the US mine bankruptcy
In a trip through his town, a local former mine worker shows how the bankruptcy of the mine has effected town life.
New function of the US mine
Due to the exploding growth of Chinese economy, the Taconite mine could reopen as an exporter of raw materials to China.
Social economic consequences of closing and reopening the US mines
A mine worker and the new Taconite manager talk about the reopening of the mine. Management choose to start fresh, which had severe financial consequences for the rehired employees.
Starting a new career
A former mine worker talks about his life after the closing of the mines. In order to be able to stay in his home town, he was forced to make a career change.
Chinese countrylife circumstances
After two years in the factory, Chinese 19 year old Jieli visits her home village. She helps her father and they talk about the decision to send her away.