For years, stay-at-home moms in Yantian District, many of whom are truck drivers' wives, have found it difficult to secure regular employment. It's not that they lack the desire to work, nor is it a matter of employer discrimination. Rather, as the primary caregivers of their families, they simply cannot balance childcare responsibilities with a standard 9-to-5 job.

Starting this March, the Yong'an Community Party Committee launched a flexible-employment project to train stay-at-home moms as livestreamers. To date, the project has signed 11 part-time streamers, who collectively livestream over 20 hours a day across six accounts, earning as much as 300 yuan (US$41.2) per day.

"I never dreamed I could work as a streamer and earn money from it," said Ms. Li, who confidently introduced potted plants to her audience from a studio at the Yong'an Community Service Center, with gentle light illuminating her face and products neatly arranged on the shelves behind her. "I used to think livestreaming was a job for pretty young women, not for someone who spends all day cooking and caring for children at home. Just two months ago, I didn't even know how to use a phone tripod, let alone speak in front of a camera."

The community service center partnered with a professional MCN agency to serve as a "community partner" in training the streamers. The agency also provides paid assignments to the mom streamers, offering them flexible employment close to home.

The program features a three-tiered training structure:

Lectures on the basics of livestreaming, including platform rules, on-camera etiquette, and scripting;

Practical assignments with recorded livestreaming drills and one-on-one tutoring for improvement;

Advanced training on sales techniques and compliance with livestreaming regulations.

Once trainees complete seven days of assignments and pass the eligibility assessment, they are allowed to work as understudies alongside experienced streamers. After successfully passing all trial broadcasts, they can sign with the MCN agency and begin their paid gigs at the community center.

"I've been a housewife since I got married," said one truck driver's wife. "This new job has given me a renewed sense of accomplishment and security."

Previously, Yong'an Community also explored other ways to offer flexible jobs for residents, such as producing handmade wearable nails at home.