Caring for the lives of Khmer ethnic women.

Co Do District is home to a large Khmer ethnic minority population. Over the years, together with the local Party committee and government, the Women's Union at all levels in the district has made efforts to implement many activities to support Khmer ethnic minority women in changing crop structures, applying advanced science and technology to production; providing capital support, vocational training, and job placement... Through these efforts, Khmer ethnic minority women have been able to increase their income and stabilize their lives.

Officials from the Women's Union of Dong Thang commune (on the left) visit and inquire about the business situation of Khmer women members in Dong Thang hamlet.

Despite facing hardship in the past, thanks to hard work and diligence, the family of Ms. Thach Thi Son in Dong Thang hamlet, Dong Thang commune, Co Do district, has gradually stabilized their lives. Previously, their family's finances were tight, and without land, Ms. Son and her husband had to work as laborers to make a living. Ms. Son shared: “Thanks to the Women's Union of the commune introducing me to a loan from the Social Policy Bank, I was able to invest in production and business. With the first loan, I rented 5 acres of land to cultivate rice. With the second loan, I opened a grocery store at home. And most recently, I borrowed money to rent more land for farming.” Currently, on over 18 acres of rented land, Ms. Son grows two rice crops per year, earning about 5 million VND per acre per crop. Her grocery store sells many essential goods, earning over 100,000 VND per day. Thanks to her diligence and efficient use of capital, Ms. Son's family overcame difficulties and became increasingly prosperous.

Also in Dong Thang hamlet, Ms. Ly Thi Hoa is one of the outstanding Khmer ethnic women members who excels in production and business. Ms. Hoa recounted: “Previously, I only had 2 acres of land for growing sugarcane. After many years of hard work and saving, I bought an additional 9 acres of land for rice cultivation. Later, all of this land fell under the planning scheme, so I continued to buy 18 acres of land near my house to cultivate rice and other crops. After a period of growing loofah, which yielded high economic returns, in the last harvest season, I switched to growing loofah on the entire area of ​​land.” According to Ms. Hoa, the Women's Union of the commune has always supported her in economic development through many practical activities, such as providing loan assistance and training in scientific and technical transfer. Currently, Ms. Hoa grows 2 crops of loofah per year, with traders buying at prices ranging from 6,000-7,000 VND/kg, earning an average income of about 280 million VND per crop.

Not only Ms. Son and Ms. Hoa, but also many Khmer ethnic women members have achieved a better life thanks to the support of the Dong Thang Commune Women's Union. According to Ms. Le Kim Luyen, President of the Dong Thang Commune Women's Union, Khmer ethnic women members mainly live in Dong Thang hamlet. The Dong Thang Hamlet Women's Union branch always prioritizes caring for and improving the lives of the Khmer ethnic people in general, and Khmer ethnic women members in particular. Currently, the branch manages a savings and loan group from the Social Policy Bank, helping 59 Khmer women members borrow capital to develop their family businesses, with a total outstanding loan balance of over 1.7 billion VND. In addition, the Women's Association of Dong Thang hamlet pays special attention to building collective economic models suitable to local realities, such as the model "Khmer ethnic women maintaining and developing traditional cake-making," and the "Basket weaving and assembly" cooperative...

In Co Do town, the Khmer ethnic minority lives primarily in Thoi Hoa B hamlet. Over the years, the Women's Union of Co Do town has implemented various solutions to change the perceptions of its members, especially Khmer women, regarding the development of collective economic models and family economic development solutions. Since 2022, the Union has established the "Flattened Rice Cake Making" Cooperative. This cooperative has attracted 10 Khmer women members in Thoi Hoa B hamlet. Through this, the women have maintained and developed their traditional craft while generating income and improving their living standards. Besides supporting product promotion and finding markets, the Women's Union of Co Do town has facilitated loans from the Social Policy Bank for the cooperative members, with a total outstanding loan balance exceeding 4 billion VND.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy, Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Co Do District, the district currently has 1,575 Khmer ethnic women cadres and members, accounting for 6.22% of the total number of women members in the district. Over the years, the Union has focused on disseminating and promptly implementing policies of the Party and State related to ethnic minorities; building core members within the ethnic minority community to promptly understand the legitimate aspirations and concerns of women. At the same time, the Union at all levels has organized many activities to provide advice, introduce jobs, support members in accessing preferential loan sources, and apply scientific and technological advancements to production... contributing to job creation and increased income for Khmer ethnic women members. Currently, the Union at all levels has vouched for loans with banks in the area, helping over 300 households access preferential loans to develop their family economies. Every year, the Women's Union at all levels, in coordination with relevant units, organizes numerous training courses on scientific and technical methods for rice, vegetable, and fruit cultivation; encourages members to apply advanced scientific and technical methods; and supports the development of suitable economic models to improve livelihood opportunities and create opportunities for increased income. This contributes to helping Khmer ethnic women members change their mindset and approach to economic development, actively engage in labor and production, and strive for a stable life.

Text and photos: KIEN QUOC

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/cham-lo-doi-song-phu-nu-dan-toc-khmer-a187301.html