For many people, free training that includes accommodations, food and internship opportunities to hone their new skills seems too good to be true.

However, for residents of Dongxiang autonomous county, Gansu province, once one of the most poverty-plagued places in China, such training is widely available.

As the country moves toward the eradication of absolute poverty, in line with central government policies, the training program in Dongxiang has been warmly welcomed by the locals, who know the skills it provides could help raise their incomes and living standards.

Before he joined the program in September, Ma Nuhai had lived outside the county as a migrant worker for almost two decades.

He lived in various places, including the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and cities in Gansu, and tried jobs in many sectors, including catering, construction and transportation.

Despite that, the 40-year-old could usually only make 2,000 to 3,000 yuan ($305 to $460) a month.

When officials from his home village of Zhaojiagou told him about the program provided by the Dongxiang Vocational and Technical School earlier this year, Ma didn't hesitate to enroll.

"When I worked in restaurants (as a waiter), I could only make about 2,000 yuan a month. A cook's monthly salary is usually over 7,000 yuan, though. I have been longing to be trained," he said.

He said that soon after joining the program, he persuaded his 17-year-old daughter to attend because the "teachers are kind and serious about their work, and we can get what we really need".

After finishing the monthlong course on cooking techniques, he chose to continue and learn to make lamian, or hand-pulled noodles.

"I want to open a restaurant in my home village with my daughter once we have completed the program," he said.

Zhang Wuxia also joined enthusiastically after learning about the program, and has been learning cooking techniques for two months.

As a nanny, she could only make about 4,000 yuan a month－roughly half the minimum monthly salary of a maternity matron－in Lanzhou, Gansu's capital.

"Eventually, I want to address my earnings gap by becoming a qualified maternity matron through the program," she said with a smile.

Tuo Fengying, the school's principal, said more than 17,000 locals have been trained via the program since the school was established five years ago to aid poverty alleviation work.

Previously, people undergoing training had no opportunities for internships.

That changed in early August, when the school opened a practice base, which includes a restaurant that is open to the public, she said.

"After a month's training in pulling noodles, for example, the students can work as interns on the first floor to strengthen their skills," Tuo said, adding that all the students receive a monthly salary of 2,800 yuan.

The interns learn many additional skills required to work in lamian restaurants, such as how to make the broth that accompanies the noodles.

That will fully prepare them to work as lamian cooks, she added.

The cost of a month's training－including all accommodations and food－is about 3,000 yuan for each student.

While the restaurant has yet to make a profit, it does break even. All the costs are covered by poverty relief funds provided by the county government, Tuo said.

In addition to teaching cooking styles, the school provides training in hand-knitting techniques, hairdressing, welding, operating excavators and truck-driving skills.

"All the training programs are designed according to people's actual needs. If required, we can provide training in other fields, too," Tuo said.