Be smart with simple things

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

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

“No money, but I have a piggy bank,” said Ngo Thi Ngu (57 years old), a resident of Ward 2, who is remembered by everyone who hears her. Her family is poor, so during the day she works at a restaurant, drives a motorbike taxi, and at night she sells soft drinks to support her two children and four grandchildren in their studies. She saves all the little profit she makes in her piggy bank, keeping only a small portion for expenses.

Thanks to that habit, by 2010, Ms. Ngu escaped poverty, then near poverty. She said, the most memorable time was when she broke her piggy bank to pay for her son's wedding and bought a small house. At that time, she was still short of more than 20 million VND, so she asked for a loan and worked hard day and night to pay it back, putting all the money she earned into the piggy bank. Sometimes when she was driving a motorbike taxi home, her body was wet in the rain, the bills were wrinkled and stuck together, but she still carefully put them in the piggy bank. Sometimes when her neighbor was sick, she also "broke her piggy bank" to help with medicine. Now, her children have stable jobs, the family is happy, and it all started with the money saved in the piggy bank.

The model of “Raising piggy banks and jars of love rice” 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 20 or March 8 every year, the women break the piggy bank to support members in difficult circumstances. Initially, 30 members were helped, from 500,000 - 1.5 million VND/person/time.

Ms. Tran Thi Thuan - Head of the Women's Association of Ward 2 said: "At first, women were hesitant to participate, but when they saw the people being helped rise up, everyone believed and volunteered to "raise" more pigs. From one pig, now there are people raising 5 pigs, becoming a "farm" to save money 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 association has 428 members, divided into 12 groups, meeting regularly on the 10th of every month. In 2025 alone, the amount of money spent on piggy banks will reach 97 million VND/year/period; 17 members will raise 5 piggy banks, the number of members supported will increase to 50 people, the support level is from 1.8 - 2 million VND/person. In parallel with raising piggy banks, the charity rice jar is maintained regularly. Each member saves a little rice every day, and at the end of the month, it will be collected and given to the families of members in difficult circumstances, helping them to ease their worries about food and clothing.

In addition, the Women's Union of Ward 2 also built many "Smart People's Mobilization" models such as mobilizing members to collect plastic waste, contributing revolving capital to build and repair houses for members, also meeting the criteria of the "Smart People's Mobilization" model at the provincial level for the period 2021 - 2025, creating more practical support for poor women to stabilize their lives.

Ms. Luong Thi Nhien (56 years old), living in Ward 2, is the first member of the model, now maintaining "raising" 5 piggy banks, sharing: "I see the spirit of volunteerism, solidarity and mutual assistance in raising piggy banks of the association, so I participate in raising more. Raising 5 piggy banks helps me save money and share with my sisters when they are in difficulty, reducing the economic burden so that together we can live happily, live healthily, and build a happier family."

According to Ms. Pham Thi Phuong Uyen - Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Rach Gia Ward, President of the Women's Union of the ward, the ward currently has 33,933 members, with 61 women's branches. The model of raising piggy banks and charity rice jars is one of many forms of savings for members. From small things in daily life such as saving electricity, water, family expenses, to raising piggy banks, contributing rice jars, all aim at the common goal of saving for the family and overcoming difficulties together. In the coming time, the association will continue to maintain and promote the effectiveness of the movement in appropriate forms so that saving and raising piggy banks becomes a habit of female members.

The Women's Union of Ward 2 has just been awarded a certificate of merit by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for its outstanding achievements in implementing the emulation movement "Skilled Mass Mobilization" for the period 2021 - 2025. The Steering Committee of the emulation movement "Skilled Mass Mobilization" also certified the model "Raising piggy banks and jars of love rice" to meet the criteria of "Skilled Mass Mobilization" at the provincial level for the period 2021 - 2025.

The model not only brings practical economic efficiency to members but also affirms the value of "Skilled Mass Mobilization" at the grassroots level, arouses the spirit of mutual assistance, strengthens 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