Start the journey of sowing the seeds of equality
Immediately after the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union issued Plan No. 43/KH-DCT, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Women's Union developed a specific plan and organized a conference to deploy it to all levels of the Union. The clear and close assignment of tasks to each professional department and unit, especially the assignment of the Standing Vice President of the Provincial Women's Union to directly direct, showed the drastic and synchronous participation. Since then, Project 8 has been operated smoothly in the communes in the Project 8 area of the province. The Women's Union is not only the focal point for implementation but also the pioneering force to inspire and encourage ethnic minority women and children in disadvantaged areas to overcome prejudices to confidently rise up in life, actively participate in movements, rise up to escape poverty, build a new cultural life, and build new rural areas - said Standing Vice President of the Provincial Women's Union Hoang Thi Thuong.
From 2022 to present, all levels of the association have established and maintained 746/625 Community Communication Teams (CMTs) (exceeding the target by 19.4%) with more than 5,600 members who are prestigious people, village cadres, village elders, and core members. This model not only propagates but is also a channel to grasp thoughts and reflect sensitive issues related to PN&TE.
TTCĐ Group - "channel for transforming" thinking at the grassroots level
Ms. Nong Thi Ly, Head of the TTCĐ Group in Na De hamlet, Dong Khe town (Thach An) recalls: “On the first day of organizing group meetings, many people were hesitant. But thanks to the training, I dared to speak up and share. Now, every group meeting, people look forward to it because I learned many useful things.” Since participating in the Project 8 training, I have boldly joined the TTCĐ Group to stand in front of a crowd to propagate about gender equality, domestic violence, child health care, etc. What I am most proud of is that the women in the neighborhood said: Since Ms. Ly became the group leader, we have become bolder and understand more things. One day, I went to the house of a couple who often had conflicts, sat down to talk and advise them - now they live very harmoniously. Ms. Ly is also the one who connected many women to attend activities at the TTCĐ Group. From an ordinary member, she has become a real “leader” in the community.
The grassroots communication team has organized 298 conferences to promote knowledge about gender equality, 580 communication conferences on gender prejudice and domestic violence, 70 communication campaigns, attracting 10,000 people, participating in 63 creative communication model competitions at commune, district and provincial levels. The content of the communication is not only about concepts but also aims to change behaviors, patriarchal concepts, and deeply rooted gender prejudices in ethnic minority communities, thereby raising awareness about gender equality, eliminating backward and harmful gender practices, gender prejudices such as early marriage, incestuous marriage, male preference, and female discrimination... to change perceptions in families and communities, empowering women and girls to confidently rise up in life.
Up to now, in many remote districts, ethnic minority areas such as Ha Quang, Bao Lam, Bao Lac... many ethnic minority fathers and mothers have learned how to share housework, respect their daughters' opinions, and encourage their children, whether boys or girls, not to get married early but to strive to finish high school, take college and university entrance exams to establish themselves and have a career with knowledge in society, said Mr. Nong Huu Huy, Yen Tho commune (Bao Lam).
From Media to Livelihood - Supporting Nearly 1,000 Disadvantaged Women to Develop Their Economy
One of the outstanding achievements of Project 8 is the effective integration of awareness raising and livelihood development support for ethnic minority women. The Provincial Women's Union coordinated to open over 300 training classes, vocational training, and business start-up guidance. Thereby, nearly 1,000 disadvantaged women have been supported in their livelihoods with suitable models such as beekeeping, black chicken farming, cage fish farming, medicinal herb growing, rice cake making, handicraft weaving, grocery business, online sales, etc. In addition, more than 2,100 women have been equipped with financial management skills, savings, and small business, helping them to proactively manage their resources and gradually take control of their family economy. Project 8 has helped ethnic minority women go from passive to active, from disadvantaged to self-reliant, from shy to inspirational" - Ms. Hoang Thi Lam, Head of the Women's Union of Xa Le hamlet, Quang Long commune (Ha Lang) shared.
In addition, Project 8 also inspired the Women's Union at the grassroots level to implement many practical models to promote the rights, roles and rights of women and children such as: "Safe villages for women and children" in Bao Lac and Trung Khanh districts, "Ethnic minority women say no to early marriage" in Ha Quang district , "Group of parents taking care of children scientifically " in Nguyen Binh district , "Model of preventing abuse" in Quang Hoa district ... attracting many families to participate, spreading widely from awareness to action on gender equality, protecting the rights and roles of women and children in the family and society.
Empowering PN&TE to speak up and act
The Women's Union at all levels organized 65 dialogue forums from commune to district level, attracting more than 10,000 women and children to participate, access information and benefits. Through the forums, women at the grassroots level had the opportunity to directly dialogue with government leaders on practical policies and regimes such as: health insurance policy, social insurance, medical examination and treatment, scholarship support, prevention of gender-based violence... Many proposals from the forum on the state's policies and regimes for women and children have been recorded and included in the action plans of localities, such as: creating jobs for rural women workers, borrowing capital from social policy banks, health insurance policies, allowances for children in especially difficult areas to go to school... "GD does not come from one-way propaganda, but from the real participation of women themselves in changing the community" - Ms. Trieu Thi, Women's Union of Pac Tan hamlet, Tu Do commune (Quang Hoa) commented.
The substantial participation of women in policy making, monitoring and social criticism has been gradually affirmed, promoting women's confidence in participating in social activities, affirming their role. "My sisters and I used to only know how to farm, now we also know how to contribute ideas to village plans, and make recommendations to the commune about supporting poor children to go to school. We feel important and respected." - Ms. Nong Thi Lanh, Van An commune (Ha Quang) said.
74/70 Operations “Trusted Address” is a silent support for women in the community. This is where women and girls who are victims of violence can come to receive protection, advice and support. Although it is difficult to maintain operations due to lack of regular funding, this model plays an important role in protecting victims of domestic violence.
129 “Leaders of Change” Club is where thousands of ethnic minority students can express their thoughts and discuss school issues, violence, and gender equality. They are equipped with knowledge about gender equality, become more confident, and know how to share with their parents, friends, and teachers about eliminating child marriage and incestuous marriage that still persists in some ethnic minorities such as Mong, Dao, etc., thereby knowing how to reflect to the school, tell their parents about children's rights to protect themselves, and eliminate harmful gender stereotypes. In addition, students also participate in the drawing contest “Gender Equality - Say No to School Violence” and mock trials that attract nearly 3,000 students, which have strongly contributed to changing violent behavior towards children, school violence, etc., creating a safe environment for children.
Multiplying new innovations when moving to 2-level local government operations
After 5 years of implementation, Project 8 in the province has achieved and exceeded 100% of core targets, contributing to changing the awareness of ethnic minorities in disadvantaged areas to be proactive and confident in their lives. This is not only the result of a target program, but also the result of the synchronous and dedicated participation of the political system, in which the Women's Union at all levels plays a core role in building and maintaining the activities of the TTCĐ Group, "Trusted Address", "Leadership Club of Change"... with the participation of thousands of commune and hamlet cadres, mass organizations, and school teachers equipped with knowledge about Project 8. From there, building a core grassroots force to actively participate in propaganda, developing a plan for Project 8 activities in the community on gender equality, eliminating gender stereotypes, promoting women's participation in social activities, and livelihoods for women and children in ethnic minority areas... This is a solid foundation for when the whole country enters the operation of the 2-level local government model, the grassroots cadres of communes and hamlets in ethnic minority areas continue to promote the implementation of Project 8, lighting up trust, sowing seeds of hope, and spreading gender equality from above. difficult lands - Chairwoman of the Provincial Women's Union Doan Thi Le An commented.
Source: https://baocaobang.vn/hieu-qua-trien-khai-du-an-8-tren-tai-tinh-3178278.html
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