Members of the Elderly Association of Quan Lao 4 village, Yen Dinh commune, discuss mediation work at the village cultural center.
In Quan Lao 4 village, Yen Dinh commune, as the loudspeaker announcement faded, a few people still lingered in the courtyard of the community center, chatting. Mr. Ha Hong Ky, the Party branch secretary, village head, and head of the mediation team, slowly gathered his documents. At over 60 years old, he was used to meetings ending as dusk fell. "Some conflicts, if resolved early, are much easier to handle, but if left unresolved, they can easily escalate into major issues," Mr. Ky said.
Lao Village 4 is called a "mixed-use village" because its residents are not all from the same village. Some moved here when the administrative boundaries were divided, some families followed their children to settle down, some retired officials bought land and built houses, and some business owners from other places have settled here. Each person brings with them a different way of life and behavior. Unlike the tightly-knit kinship structure of a traditional village, neighborly relationships here rely heavily on mutual agreement and respect. Seemingly small issues like shared pathways, drainage ditches, and noise levels can easily escalate into conflicts if not addressed openly. It is in this context that the role of the village mediation committee becomes even more prominent. The voices of the elders are not based on blood ties, but on impartiality and experience. When the elders intervene, the priority is not just right or wrong, but how to continue living together in the long term.
In early 2025, the village mediation team received a report about a conflict between Mr. TVA and Ms. TTN. Disagreements over daily life and raising children caused tension in the family. Instead of inviting both parties to a meeting at the same time, the team met with each person separately to listen. After the meeting and analysis, the couple agreed to adjust their behavior.
The Elderly Association of Quan Lao 4 village has 92 members. Among them are members of the village's mediation team. Many of them were formerly teachers or soldiers, so they possess both experience in their work and a firm grasp of legal regulations. Their strength lies not only in their knowledge but also in their understanding of each person's character. When conflicts arise, they visit each party's home, listening to their side of the story. Instead of making judgments, the elders analyze the situation based on the law and within the context of community spirit. Their calm demeanor helps to temper egos.
Neighborhood Group 6 in Quang Trung Ward has 268 households with over 1,080 residents. Mr. Trinh Van Kien (68 years old), Party branch secretary, head of the Fatherland Front Committee, and head of the neighborhood mediation team, said: “The number of disputes is increasing, ranging from land disputes and drainage ditches to fences and environmental sanitation issues.” Recently, a dispute between two households, PT M and VT N, stemmed from rainwater flowing into their yards. In a fit of anger, Ms. N had someone cut a section of her neighbor's roof. Verification revealed that the cut section belonged to Ms. M. After explanation, Ms. N apologized and compensated, and Ms. M's family installed a drainage system to prevent further damage. “The most difficult thing is that many people always think they are right. Mediation requires both reason and compassion so that both sides understand the situation and each other,” Mr. Kien said.
The province currently has 498,750 elderly members, organized into 4,351 branches across 166 communes and wards. In many localities, members form the core force in grassroots mediation teams. With its guiding and connecting role, the Provincial Association of the Elderly regularly collaborates with the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, the judicial sector, and local authorities to organize training in mediation skills, update legal regulations, and introduce reputable members to participate in grassroots mediation teams. According to the Chairman of the Provincial Association of the Elderly, Nguyen Duc Thang, the role of the elderly does not replace the functional agencies, but rather creates a buffer zone to allow parties to remain calm. When conflicts are explained reasonably and fairly from the outset, the likelihood of escalating conflict is greatly reduced.
In the context of increasingly diverse community relations, senior citizen associations at all levels in the province are operating as a soft social institution, lacking coercive power but possessing significant moral weight; they do not issue decisions but contribute to shaping behavior. Amidst everyday conflicts, the calm voice of the elderly plays a balancing role, ensuring that many minor issues remain at the level of dialogue, rather than escalating into prolonged disputes.
Text and photos: Tang Thuy
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/can-can-cua-uy-tin-278281.htm
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