"Launch pad" for women to start a business

Through training courses, competitions, and specific support models, thousands of women have been empowered and confident in starting and developing businesses, contributing to job creation, increasing income, and affirming the role of women in socio-economic development.

Having been involved in the silkworm farming business since 2017, Ms. Rieu Thi Tuoi, a Nung ethnic in Sinh May village, Ea Nuol commune, started with 2 sao of mulberry land. Thanks to her diligence in learning and applying new techniques, she has now expanded her scale to 2 hectares of mulberry, bringing high and stable economic efficiency.

During that journey, Ms. Tuoi always received the companionship and support of the local Women's Union. In 2021, Ms. Tuoi was supported by the Union to borrow 20 million VND from the start-up capital to expand production. By 2024, she continued to borrow an additional 20 million VND to develop the scale of silkworm farming, invest in breeds and barn systems. With effective methods, she rose up to escape poverty, becoming a typical example in the movement of women doing good business in the locality. Currently, on average, each month, after deducting expenses, her family's income reaches more than 20 million VND.

The Provincial Women's Union organized a training course on digital business knowledge and skills for women starting businesses in Cu M'gar commune.

Not only developing the family economy, Ms. Tuoi also actively shares experiences and provides technical guidance to other members. In 2022, she founded and chaired the Collective Silkworm Cultivation Model with 5 members. After more than 2 years of operation, the model has grown to more than 40 members who are women members in the area, cultivating an area of nearly 40 hectares, contributing to job creation and increasing income for many households.

Ms. Tuoi shared: “I always keep in mind that if I can do it, other women can do it too. Thanks to Project 939, I have the opportunity to access capital, science and technology and the confidence to expand the model. Now, the joy is not only escaping poverty but also developing the economy with women, helping each other to rise up.”

When the women's start-up movement spread widely in the area, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Huyen (Cu Bao ward) boldly registered to participate in the "Women's Start-up" Contest in 2023 organized by the Women's Union of Buon Ho town (old).

With the idea of “Community health care service - Spa therapy”, Ms. Huyen has built a feasible project, focusing on safety, friendliness and suitability to the actual needs of the people. As a result, her project won second prize, and was supported by the Association with a loan of 20 million VND from start-up capital to implement the idea. “The competition helped me look back at my model scientifically, learn how to make a business plan, manage finances, and approach customers. More importantly, I received great encouragement from the sisters in the Association, making me more confident in pursuing the chosen path”, Ms. Huyen shared.

After the contest, Ms. Huyen boldly opened Huyen An Spa treatment facility in Cu Bao ward. The facility has 4 treatment beds, 2 well-trained technicians, specializing in providing massage services, acupressure, neck and shoulder massage, health care using health care methods. Thanks to her dedication and professionalism, Huyen An Spa quickly gained the trust of customers, with a stable number of customers.

Implementing Project 939, Women's Unions at all levels have proactively advised Party committees and authorities to issue plans, integrating start-up support activities with national target programs and the movement "Women actively study, work creatively, build happy families".

Training courses on transferring science on production and animal husbandry, improving knowledge and skills for members on business planning, management, use of loans, financial management, digital transformation, and marketing are regularly organized by the Association in coordination with relevant departments, helping members improve their capacity and boldly build economic models suitable to actual conditions.

Women members visit and learn about startup products displayed at the 2024 Women's Startup Festival.

At the same time, the Association has coordinated with banks, built a Women's Startup Support Fund, connected with businesses... to help many women access preferential capital to expand production. In particular, the Women's Startup Festival organized annually by the Provincial Women's Union has connected women-owned businesses, authors with feasible startup ideas with departments, branches, sectors, units, and sponsors so that all parties have more information, search, access, and support resources for women to start businesses. Thereby, more than 1,700 women have been supported by the Association at all levels to start businesses with a capital of over 24 billion VND.

Since Project 939, in many villages, the image of women is no longer associated with hard-working fields, but rather with owners of production facilities, heads of cooperatives, and community leaders who strive to become rich legitimately. Currently, many start-up models of Dak Lak women associated with OCOP products, community tourism, green - clean - sustainable agriculture have become bright spots, contributing to promoting the local image, promoting economic development associated with preserving national culture.

Ms. Vo Thi Ngoc, Vice President of the Provincial Women's Union, said: "Project 939 not only supports start-ups, but also contributes to changing perceptions, helping women to boldly rise up and be more confident in social life. After the end of Project 939 for the period 2017 - 2025, we are in the process of mobilizing and proposing further policies, both continuing to support women who have been assisted and having more mechanisms for many women to start businesses and production."

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/xa-hoi/202510/be-phong-cho-phu-nu-khoi-nghiep-52319c8/