A source of emotional support for the elderly.

QTO - After 17 years of consistently maintaining its activities, the Mothers' Group in Linh An village, Nam Cua Viet commune, has gradually become a "spiritual support" for elderly grandmothers and mothers amidst the ever-changing modern life in this coastal area.

When the elderly "don't stand idly by"

Despite being a centenarian, with unsteady steps, gray hair, and failing eyesight, Mrs. Le Thi Mot (100 years old) from Linh An village, Nam Cua Viet commune, enthusiastically sang to the resounding applause of the elderly women at the conference summarizing and evaluating the activities of the 2021-2026 term and outlining directions and tasks for the 2026-2031 term of the Linh An Village Mothers' Group.

Grandma Mot is not an exceptional case. The "audience" at these regular meetings is also comprised of elderly grandmothers and mothers, many of whom are already of advanced age. Transcending the limitations of age, they choose not to be on the sidelines but actively participate in community life in their own way.

Every quarter, the elderly women gather together for simple yet warm cultural and artistic activities. There, folk songs and melodies resonate with enthusiasm, laughter rings out, mingling with simple, heartfelt stories of life, and firm handshakes convey warmth and joy. All of this creates a space filled with neighborly affection, spreading the spirit of living happily, healthily, and usefully in their twilight years.

The Mothers' Group of Linh An village held a conference to summarize and evaluate activities during the 2021-2026 term and set forth directions and tasks for the 2026-2031 term - Photo: TT

Established in April 2009, the Linh An Village Mothers' Group initially had 78 members. Currently, it has 117 mothers aged 70 and above participating, reaching a peak of 135 members. With their thrifty and frugal habits, the elderly women diligently maintain a fund to organize visits and condolences for members who are ill or in need. Furthermore, the fund is used flexibly to support members with loans and to organize social gatherings and meetings.

In addition, the elderly actively promote the local spirit of physical exercise and sports , demonstrating a sense of community by forming the habit of walking together every day and participating in activities organized by the Party committee and government, such as workshops, seminars, rallies, and village and commune-level events.

Moreover, the Mothers' Group is also an effective propaganda "channel" at the grassroots level. Through their meetings, the women actively integrate the dissemination of the Party's guidelines, the State's policies and laws; and advocate for environmental protection, building happy families, and a civilized lifestyle. Notably, the majority of members were former branch and group leaders, so they have a lot of experience and prestige in mobilizing the masses.

With their prestige and extensive experience in propaganda and mobilization, these elderly women serve as living examples, positively influencing their descendants and contributing to the formation of awareness of law compliance and the preservation of cultural values. Through this, the criteria of the "5 No's, 3 Cleanliness, 3 Safety" model launched by the Vietnam Women's Union are implemented more effectively and sustainably, starting from each individual family.

With their practical contributions, the Linh An Village Mothers' Group has been recognized and highly appreciated by all levels of the Women's Union, and has become a model example that the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union visited, presented gifts to, and recommended for replication.

The humane model needs to be replicated.

From the experience in Nam Cua Viet, the practical value of promoting the role of the elderly in community building is clearly evident. Not only do they contribute to spreading enduring spiritual values ​​to future generations, but these elderly women also actively participate in important local and national activities and events. The image of Mrs. Duong Thi Sao (109 years old), from An Nhon village, My Thuy commune, still casting her vote to exercise her civic right and entrusting her faith in the representatives she trusts, is a vivid example of responsibility and civic consciousness at an age rarely seen before.

Currently, according to statistics from the Quang Tri Provincial Women's Union, the proportion of female members aged 60 and above accounts for a significant share of the total membership in the province. This is not only a large force but also a valuable source of "social capital," possessing rich experience, prestige, and influence within the community.

Therefore, establishing and maintaining models of clubs, organizations, and groups for elderly women is a practical solution to attract and gather elderly members. Through these models, the effectiveness of propaganda and mobilization work at the grassroots level is enhanced, contributing to building cultural life and strengthening national unity.

However, for these groups to operate effectively and truly become a "spiritual connecting thread" for elderly members, according to Ms. Le Thi Tham, Head of the Mothers' Group in Linh An village, they need the help, attention, and support of the Party committees, village authorities, and women's organizations in managing and operating the groups. At the same time, they need to coordinate and organize more cultural and artistic activities, diversify the forms of activities, and create suitable playgrounds for elderly women to interact, share, and promote their roles.

Ms. Phan Thi Hoai My, Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Nam Cua Viet Commune, said: “The Union highly appreciates the practical contributions of the Linh An Village Mothers' Group in caring for the spiritual lives of its members, and hopes that the model will continue to be maintained and effectively promoted in the future. The Union also aims to expand the number of elderly women's groups in the area, not only to connect people of the same generation but also to become a bridge between the past and the present, between tradition and modern life.”

Thu Thao

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202605/diem-tua-tinh-than-cho-nguoi-cao-tuoi-32419d5/