Project 8: Journey to bring about change

With flexible and creative solutions, in the period of 2021 - 2025, the Women's Union of Quang Tri province has implemented Project 8 and achieved many positive results. Activities and models promoting gender equality have been implemented with attention, contributing to changing "thinking and working methods", enhancing economic power for women and the voice of children.

Propaganda work plays an important role in raising awareness of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas - Photo: LM

Specific, practical activities

Truong Son is a commune chosen by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union and the Provincial Women's Union as the first unit to implement Project 8. This is an opportunity for the locality to fundamentally resolve inequality in many areas.

After the project was launched, the Commune Women's Union established community communication groups (CMCs), trusted addresses, and Leaders of Change clubs. Through this, people have more access to knowledge about the Law on Gender Equality, eliminating gender stereotypes in household chores, knowledge about marriage and family, and preventing school dropouts for children in mountainous areas...

Former President of the Women's Union of Truong Son Commune, Nguyen Thi My Duyen, shared: “During the project implementation process, the Women's Union of Truong Son Commune always identified this as a very important task because it directly affects the awareness, thinking and working methods of the people, contributing to gender equality and eliminating backward customs in the locality. We have proactively and flexibly proposed creative and practical solutions to bring about the best results.”

In line with the plan of the Provincial People's Committee on implementing Project 8 "Implementing gender equality and solving urgent issues for women and children", the Women's Union at all levels in the province has established more than 200 TTCĐ groups. The participating members are key and prestigious cadres in the villages and hamlets... They have promoted their core and pioneering role in propagating and mobilizing local people to change their "thinking and way of doing"...

To promote and enhance the economic empowerment of members, ethnic minority women and mountainous areas, the Provincial Women's Union has organized many training courses to consult, guide, and support the application of science and technology for livelihood groups. Specifically, the union has supported cooperatives (HTX) and cooperative groups (THT), such as: Tay Thach Han Ecological Agriculture Cooperative, Ta Rut Dwarf Banana Cooperative, Lao Bao Handicraft Cooperative, and Truong Son Honey Beekeeping Cooperative. The union has also deployed village savings loan groups to support women in investing in expanding production development...

In order to ensure the voice and real participation of women and children in community socio-economic development activities, monitoring and criticism, the Women's Union at all levels in the province has organized many dialogue conferences, creating conditions for women to express their thoughts and aspirations. In particular, the formation of the Leaders of Change Clubs has practical significance for children, helping them improve their knowledge, self-protection skills, confidence and courage to change.

Project 8 is one of 10 component projects under the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas, 2021-2025 period, chaired by the Vietnam Women's Union. The key groups of activities of this project focus on propaganda and mobilization to change "thinking and working methods"; contributing to eliminating gender prejudices and stereotypes, backward views in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas. At the same time, the project builds and replicates models to ensure the voice and substantive participation of women and children in socio-economic development activities; enhance economic empowerment for women...

Change "thinking and doing"

Propaganda work is identified as the most important factor in changing “thinking and doing”, enhancing economic power for women and children’s voices. The establishment of community intervention models has contributed to positive changes in people’s awareness and actions, especially women and children in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

Women in Ta Rut commune are instructed on dwarf banana growing techniques - Photo: LM

Ms. Ho Thi Thu, Head of the village and Head of the TTCĐ group in Da Chat village (Truong Son commune) excitedly shared: “After participating in the communication sessions of the TTCĐ group, many women in the village shared that their husbands have changed a lot. They know how to care and share more housework with their wives. Hopefully, in the coming time, the TTCĐ group's activities will have more useful content so that people can acquire good knowledge, thereby changing their awareness and building a prosperous and happy family.”

Ta Rut dwarf banana cooperative is a typical example of innovation in production thinking and application of science and technology to market connection. The cooperative was established in 2019, currently has 20 members, all of whom are women. Previously, the cooperative's members mainly grew bananas using traditional methods. Later, thanks to the companionship and technical support of Project 8, the women applied new methods that brought higher productivity and efficiency. In particular, the cooperative's fresh banana products have met VietGAP and OCOP 3-star standards, affirming their quality and reputation in the market.

Ms. Ho Thi Xo, Head of the Ta Rut dwarf banana cooperative, said: “Thanks to the support of the Provincial Women's Union and related projects and organizations, our cooperative has maintained production, had stable output, and contributed to improving the material life and status of women. The success of the model also spreads the spirit of strong development in the ethnic minority women community.”

Permanent Vice President of the Provincial Women's Union Tran Thi Thuy Nga said: "The implementation of Project 8 activities in phase 1 from 2021 to 2025 is an important strategy, a task that is both immediate and long-term in effectively solving urgent social issues for women and children in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

With the efforts in implementing Project 8 of the association at all levels and the participation of organizations, sectors and unions in recent times, many models and activities for women and children in ethnic minority and mountainous areas have brought practical benefits and positive changes in empowering ethnic minority women. Prejudices and discrimination based on gender are gradually eliminated; children's rights are protected and developed comprehensively; investment in the fields of health,education , and economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas has been increased...".

Le Mai

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/du-an-8-hanh-trinh-mang-lai-nhung-doi-thay-195768.htm