Providing timely support and encouragement to those in difficult circumstances is a driving force for members to strive for a better future.

As a single mother, struggling alone to raise and educate her children, Ms. Tran Thi Tuyet Nhung (Cong Thanh Village Women's Association) has always been a "key figure" receiving attention, support, and assistance from local women's associations in building a loving home for her children.

Not relying on that support, when given livelihood assistance and access to preferential loans, Ms. Tuyet Nhung "broke through" to expand her livestock farming and crop cultivation, developing her economy .

“I know that the house my mother and I live in, or the livestock I received, are all the result of the savings and sharing of the women in the association. Receiving so much kindness from the association, I think I must use it as motivation to strive for success. From those initial livestock, I have gradually developed my farming and livestock raising, stabilizing my family's finances,” Ms. Nhung shared.

Facing difficult circumstances, with her family's economy primarily dependent on farming, Ms. Nguyen Thi Toan (from the Thanh Tai village Women's Association) had to give up on expanding her livestock business despite lacking capital and fearing debt from borrowing. However, since being encouraged by the Women's Association at various levels and actively participating in its activities, Ms. Toan has been exposed to and learned about effective economic development models and livestock and crop farming techniques. Her thinking gradually changed, and she boldly borrowed preferential loans from entrusted loan sources through the women's association. With capital and basic knowledge, she confidently invested in and expanded her livestock business.

Thanks to their thorough understanding of each member's circumstances, the local Women's Union branches and commune-level Women's Unions have provided timely and effective support. Furthermore, to unite members, commune-level Women's Union officials regularly visit grassroots levels, paying attention to units with weak performance, and focusing on building models and clubs suitable for women at the grassroots level, especially savings models and low-interest loan funds to help women overcome poverty. Currently, 12 out of 13 women's branches have savings activities with a total amount exceeding 400 million VND, helping 360 disadvantaged women members borrow at low interest rates to develop their businesses and address unexpected and urgent difficulties in their lives.

In 2023, the Women's Union of the commune helped 4 female members escape poverty. Simultaneously, in coordination with the Social Policy Bank, they facilitated loans for poor households and other policy beneficiaries, under the strict guidance of the Women's Union at all levels, from the commune to the grassroots. To date, there are 12 loan groups managed by the Union, with nearly 650 female members receiving loans.

Ms. Chau Thi Tuyet, Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Phong Son commune, said: Besides focusing on building models to help women develop economically and sustainably escape poverty, the Union requires its branches to pay attention to the lives and real needs of female members regarding family economic development. Through this, they assess and classify poor member households, investigate the causes, and provide appropriate and timely support measures. In addition to assisting members with loan application procedures, the Women's Union of Phong Son commune encourages and supports members to participate in entrepreneurship competitions organized by various levels to gain experience and learn from successful and effective models. The Union also disseminates and spreads good models and innovative approaches of its members to all women in the branches, thereby creating motivation for members to develop economically, especially poor women and those with difficult circumstances.

Text and photos: Thao Vy