Effective community mobilization helps maintain peace along the border.

At the border front, through simple acts, women in Ha Tien ward contribute to maintaining peace and security in their villages through the model of Women's Groups protecting the border and boundary markers.

Members of the Women's Group for Border and Boundary Protection in Ha Tien Ward exchange information and assess the local situation. Photo: HOANG MAI

Late in the afternoon, along the border road in Xa Xia neighborhood, amidst the hurried crowds returning home after a day's work, Ms. Thi Neang, a resident of Xa Xia neighborhood, lingered, preparing to join the women's group on patrol. The heavy lifting had accustomed her shoulders to the burden, but her footsteps along the border carried a different feeling—both quiet and responsible.

Neang recounted that she had never thought she would participate in this work before. She only focused on her business and family, while border matters were the responsibility of the soldiers. But then, in the afternoons, the women in the group would visit, asking about her business while gently talking about protecting the village, the risks of illegal entry and exit, smuggling, etc. These stories touched upon the most intimate aspects of her life and the peace of her family. "After listening to them repeatedly, I understood that protecting the border is also protecting our home. I went a few times and got used to it; now that I don't go, I miss it," Neang said.

From the tireless efforts of women like Ms. Neang, the model of women's groups protecting the border and boundary markers gradually took shape through the skillful community mobilization of the Women's Union of Ha Tien ward. The ward has over 14km of border with Cambodia, bordering three communes in Kampong Trach district, Kampot province; it has an international border gate, many unofficial border crossings, and casino operations, making the security and order situation potentially complex. Therefore, in addition to the functional forces, the role of the people in participating in maintaining security is crucial.

Getting people, especially women, to participate in this task, which is considered "difficult and arduous," is no easy feat. Most women in Xa Xia neighborhood are self-employed or run small businesses, facing many worries in life, and believe that patrolling and protecting the border is the responsibility of the military. Based on this reality, the Women's Union of Ha Tien ward has been persistent and flexible, starting from the grassroots level; integrating propaganda into group activities, directly reaching out to each member's family, and linking the campaign's content to daily life to create consensus. Ms. Thi Loan, head of the Women's Border and Boundary Marker Protection Group in Ha Tien ward, shared: "To get women to participate, we must understand each person's circumstances, and the campaign must be flexible and not coercive. When women see this connected to their lives, they will naturally participate." Beyond just campaigning, the group is also flexible in its organization of activities. Patrol times are arranged appropriately, tasks are clearly assigned, creating conditions for members to both participate in maintaining security and manage their family responsibilities. It is this understanding that has helped the model maintain its core 10 members and continue to expand.

From being hesitant, many women now proactively register to participate in patrols, coordinating with border guards to monitor the local situation. Annually, more than 20 awareness campaigns are organized, with nearly 300 participants; 14 patrols are conducted with 89 members, promptly detecting and reporting 4 cases of organized illegal border crossings and 2 cases of smuggling. More importantly, the model has changed people's perceptions. From viewing border protection as solely the responsibility of law enforcement, many members now clearly understand their role, becoming "eyes and ears" at the grassroots level, contributing to maintaining peace in their neighborhoods.

The group also takes care of its members' lives by mobilizing and supporting 19 members to borrow over 1.3 billion VND to develop their businesses ; giving 80 gifts worth a total of 43 million VND; and building a new house for a single woman in the border area. When their lives become stable, the women have more opportunities to participate in and be involved in community activities. Ms. Trinh Ngoc Son - President of the Women's Union of Ha Tien Ward, said that from a small model, the group has created a clear change in the awareness and actions of its members, contributing to maintaining local security and order.

According to Tran Ngoc Quyen, Head of the Party Building Committee of Ha Tien Ward Party Committee, the outstanding feature of the model is its reliance on the people, placing women at the center of mobilization, and implementing it through concrete and practical actions, thereby creating consensus and effectively promoting the role of the people. It's not just about safeguarding the border; it's also about maintaining peace from every home, building a strong foundation of public support in the nation's frontier.

HOANG MAI

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/dan-van-kheo-giu-yen-duong-bien-a481285.html