Veterans of Thuy Phuong ward take care of trees along the railway line in the ward. Photo: Ngoc Van

Effective economic development

I had the opportunity to visit the timber plantation model of the family of veteran Nguyen Thanh Xe in Thuy Phuong ward. Looking at the lush green acacia forest, he said: “Thanks to the active support and advocacy of the Ward Veterans Association, I had the opportunity to borrow capital to invest in timber plantation and sawing wood for economic purposes. Up to now, my family has a profit of 350 - 400 million VND each year.”

Mr. Xe is one of the exemplary war veterans in economic development in Thuy Phuong ward. According to Mr. Duong Van Tuan, Chairman of the Ward War Veterans Association, in recent years, the Association has encouraged members to respond to the movement of “Exemplary War Veterans”, self-reliance, self-improvement, helping each other develop the economy, and striving to become rich.

To achieve that goal, the Ward Veterans Association has established the Association of Veterans Entrepreneurs - Farm Owners in the ward and built economic development models, such as: The model of the Veterans Club - Veterans helping each other develop the economy, the model of commercial production and business, the model of capital contribution to support Veterans members to develop household economy... The Ward Veterans Association coordinates with the Ward Farmers Association to organize training courses on science and technology, organize for members to visit and study models in other localities to apply advanced technology to production and business.

In order to support loans for members, the Ward Veterans Association has secured a total outstanding loan of 1.3 billion VND from the Town Social Policy Bank. At the same time, the Association has also built and mobilized 285 million VND for the member support fund, helping members borrow capital at low interest rates to do business.

With support from the Ward Veterans Association and determination to overcome difficulties and get rich, many families of members have become farm owners, business owners, creating jobs for many local workers. Veterans Association members develop their economy with many different models, but the common point is that they bring in significant income. Some people build garden - pond - barn models, earning 300 - 400 million VND/year; others take care of and grow ornamental plants, earning 500 - 600 million VND/year; others plant forests for exploitation, earning about 400 million VND/year. Some veterans develop aquaculture models, earning more than 500 million VND/year.

"Many member families specializing in trade, construction material production, freight transport, restaurants, motels, etc. have developed their businesses well, creating stable jobs for many members and children of war veterans in the locality with an average income of 6 - 8 million VND/person/month", Mr. Duong Van Tuan informed. Thanks to these efforts, from 2019 to present, the Association has eliminated 2 poor war veterans households and 2 near-poor war veterans households. Up to now, the entire Association no longer has poor or near-poor households.

Actively participate in social activities

Not only actively developing the economy, the members of the Thuy Phuong Ward Veterans Association carry out many meaningful activities towards the community. With the spirit of "The good leaves cover the torn leaves", every year, the Association gives gifts to poor households and households in difficult circumstances from 15 to 20 gifts, each gift worth 250,000 - 300,000 VND. The members actively contribute to the "Comradely Love" fund to support cases of veterans facing difficulties and misfortunes.

In 2024, the Ward Veterans Association coordinated with organizations in the ward to organize a cultural program to raise funds for the community, to support members, union members in difficult circumstances and students who have overcome difficulties to study well. At the end of August, the Ward Veterans Association launched the construction of the model "The road that grandparents and grandchildren take care of together" and responded to the movement "Train road - flower road" in 2024.

With the achieved results, the Association of War Veterans of Thuy Phuong Ward has been awarded many certificates of merit and certificates of merit in the movement of "Exemplary War Veterans" by the Provincial Association of War Veterans, the People's Committee and the Association of War Veterans of Huong Thuy Town.

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