Empowering women to empower themselves.

QTO - Sustainable poverty reduction efforts begin not only with livelihood support or capital, but also with helping people access information, change their perceptions, and learn how to find their own path. Through community outreach programs, many women in rural, mountainous, and ethnic minority areas have gradually overcome feelings of inferiority, boldly learned, and proactively developed their economies.

Báo Quảng Trị•26/05/2026

From "listening to know" to "knowing to do"

Many years ago, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong, residing in residential area 8, Hoan Lao commune, thought her life would never improve. A work accident had left her health deteriorating, her husband had passed away prematurely, and she was left to raise two young children alone amidst constant financial struggles. Having been classified as a poor household for many years, her worries stemmed not only from the struggle for basic necessities but also from a feeling of helplessness, unsure where to begin to change her life.

The turning point came when she participated in local community outreach programs. There, she received guidance on developing a household economic plan, accessing preferential loan policies, and choosing suitable production methods. With a loan of 100 million VND, she invested in expanding her grocery business and combining it with chicken farming to increase her income. Thanks to her hard work, by the end of 2024, her family officially escaped poverty.

"My family used to be very poor. Thanks to loan support and guidance on how to do business, I now have a trading business and have built a new house. I will continue to work hard to further develop our economic situation," Ms. Hong shared.

Women members participate in exchanging and sharing experiences at a communication session on poverty reduction and household economic development in the locality - Photo: M.H

Women members participate in exchanging and sharing experiences at a communication session on poverty reduction and household economic development in the locality - Photo: MH

Hong's story reflects the reality for many women in rural areas today. When they have access to the right information, understand the policies, and receive specific guidance, they begin to change their mindset, boldly engaging in economic activities instead of just waiting for support.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai, residing in Lang village, Hoan Lao commune, also struggled for a time, unsure of which development path would suit her family's circumstances. In 2023, through activities and awareness campaigns organized by the Women's Union, she received guidance on building a small-scale production model suitable to her local conditions. From raising cattle, pigs, and chickens to purchasing golden apple snails, after deducting expenses, her family now earns over 200 million VND per year.

What's admirable is that from someone who used to be insecure, Ms. Hoai has now become someone who shares her economic development experiences with many other women in the village. "My family's finances are more stable now than before. I also want to share my experience with those who are still struggling so they have more motivation to improve their lives," Ms. Hoai said.

In reality, sustainable poverty reduction begins not only with capital or livelihood support but also with helping people change their mindset. When women learn how to plan, proactively seek knowledge, and boldly embrace new things, they will become a crucial force in developing their family's economy.

Bringing information closer to women in disadvantaged areas.

In many mountainous and ethnic minority areas, the difficulties in poverty reduction lie not only in a lack of capital or livelihoods but also in limited access to information, production knowledge, and life-organizing skills. Based on this reality, poverty reduction communication efforts by women's unions at all levels have been implemented in a more people-oriented and practical manner, focusing on issues directly related to daily life such as access to loans, household economic development, healthcare, child rearing, and livelihood development skills.

In 2025, the Women's Union at all levels in the province organized 386 propaganda and dissemination sessions on policies and guidelines for over 102,500 members and women; opened 46 vocational training classes and transferred technical skills to over 2,000 women; supported many livelihood models and connected them with loan sources to help women develop economically.

In Truong Son commune, home to a large Van Kieu ethnic minority population, the Women's Union has flexibly organized propaganda sessions in the evenings or on weekends to suit the residents' living conditions. Instead of focusing heavily on theory, the content concentrates on guiding livestock and crop farming techniques, accessing capital, and developing suitable economic models. The Women's Union has also implemented training courses to enhance the leadership capacity and skills of its officials and core members, aiming to gradually improve the role and initiative of women in the community.

According to Tran Thanh Hien, Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Truong Son commune, the most noticeable change today is the proactive approach of women in learning and developing the economy. "Previously, many women were hesitant and rarely participated in community activities. But through specific guidance and awareness campaigns, they have become more confident in learning, knowing how to plan and manage their finances, and proactively approaching development models suitable to their family's conditions," Ms. Hien said.

It is noteworthy that current poverty reduction communication efforts are no longer limited to disseminating policies but are gradually moving towards the goal of helping people "understand in order to act," progressively changing their perceptions and enhancing their self-reliance in economic development.

My Hanh

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202605/de-phu-nu-tu-vuon-len-b23735e/