Be skillful in exercising through simple things.

From piggy banks and jars of rice for charity, the Women's Association of Ward 2, formerly An Binh Ward (now Rach Gia Ward), skillfully mobilized its members to help each other escape poverty. After nearly 20 years, this model has created a revolving fund and contributed to helping members overcome difficulties and improve their lives.

Members of the Women's Association in Ward 2, Rach Gia Commune, raise funds in piggy banks to create a revolving fund and help each other overcome difficulties. Photo: BICH THUY

"I have no money, but I have a piggy bank," said Mrs. Ngo Thi Ngu (57 years old), residing in Ward 2, a phrase that everyone remembers. Facing difficult circumstances, she works at a restaurant and drives a motorbike taxi during the day, and sells soft drinks at night to support her two children and four grandchildren's education. She saves every penny she earns in her piggy bank, keeping only a small portion for expenses.

Thanks to that habit, by 2010, Mrs. Ngu had escaped poverty, then near-poverty. She recounts that she remembers most vividly the time she broke open her piggy bank to pay for her son's wedding and the time she bought a small house. Back then, she was short more than 20 million dong, so she borrowed money and worked day and night to pay it back, putting all her earnings into the piggy bank. Sometimes, after driving a motorbike taxi home, soaked in the rain, with crumpled and sticky banknotes, she would still carefully put them into the piggy bank. Sometimes, when a neighbor was sick, she would also "break open the piggy bank" to help with medicine. Now, her children have stable jobs, and her family is happy and peaceful, all thanks to the savings in her piggy bank.

The "Piggy Bank and Charity Rice Jar" model has been implemented by the Women's Association of Ward 2 since 2007, with 150 members. Each person raises a piggy bank, and on October 20th or March 8th each year, the women break open their piggy banks to support members in difficult circumstances. Initially, they helped 30 members, providing between 500,000 and 1,500,000 VND per person per donation.

Ms. Tran Thi Thuan, Head of the Women's Association in Ward 2, said: "Initially, the women were hesitant to participate, but when they saw those who were helped prosper, everyone trusted and voluntarily 'raised' more pigs. From one pig, some now raise five, becoming a 'savings farm' at home. In 2026, the association will establish a capital support model to help women develop their economy and have more opportunities for sustainable business."

Currently, the branch has 428 members, divided into 12 groups, meeting regularly on the 10th of each month. In 2025 alone, the amount collected from piggy banks reached 97 million VND/year/period; 17 members raised 5 piggy banks, increasing the number of members receiving support to 50, with support ranging from 1.8 to 2 million VND per person. Alongside the piggy bank savings, the "rice jar of compassion" is maintained regularly. Each member saves a small amount of rice each day, and at the end of the month, the money is collected and given to member families in difficult circumstances, helping to alleviate their worries about food and clothing.

Furthermore, the Women's Association of Ward 2 has also developed many "effective community mobilization" models, such as encouraging members to collect plastic waste and contributing to a revolving fund to build and repair houses for members. These models also meet the criteria for "effective community mobilization" at the provincial level for the 2021-2025 period, creating practical support for poor women to stabilize their lives.

Ms. Luong Thi Nhien (56 years old), residing in Ward 2, is the first member of the model and now maintains five piggy banks. She shared: "I saw the spirit of voluntarism and solidarity in helping each other raise piggy banks within the association, so I joined in. Raising five piggy banks helps me save money and allows me to share with other women when they are in difficulty, reducing the economic burden so that we can all live happily and healthily together, and build happier families."

According to Ms. Pham Thi Phuong Uyen, Standing Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Rach Gia Ward and Chairwoman of the Women's Union of the ward, the ward currently has 33,933 members, with 61 women's branches. The piggy bank and rice jar savings model is one of many forms of saving among members. From small things in daily life such as saving electricity, water, and household expenses, to saving in piggy banks and contributing to rice jars, all aim towards the common goal of saving for the family and overcoming difficulties together. In the future, the union will continue to maintain and promote the effectiveness of the movement through appropriate forms so that saving in piggy banks becomes a habit deeply ingrained in the women members.

The Women's Association of Ward 2 has just been awarded a certificate of commendation by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for its outstanding achievements in implementing the "Effective Mass Mobilization" emulation movement during the 2021-2025 period. The Steering Committee of the "Effective Mass Mobilization" emulation movement also certified the "Piggy Bank and Charity Rice Jar" model as meeting the "Effective Mass Mobilization" criteria at the provincial level for the 2021-2025 period.

This model not only brings practical economic benefits to members but also affirms the value of "effective grassroots mobilization," fostering a spirit of mutual support and strengthening people's trust, so that each movement truly becomes a driving force for local development.

BICH THUY

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/kheo-van-dong-tu-nhung-viec-gian-di-a427960.html