Thai woman revives livelihood for poor village

Concerned about the poverty of the people.

After many years working as a cultural officer in the commune, in 2010, Ms. Sam Thi Xanh (born in 1959, residing in Hoa Tien village, Chau Tien commune, Nghe An province) retired. Many people thought she would choose a life of leisure, but on the contrary, that was when she dedicated all her energy to her greatest passion in life: preserving the culture of the Thai ethnic group.

She enrolled in a class to learn the ancient Thai script, and then joined the Thai Script Club in her village. Realizing that few young people knew how to read and write their ethnic script, Ms. Xanh and the club members opened classes to teach the script, traditional folk songs, embroidery and weaving, and festival rituals.

The Thai culture class is taught by Ms. Sam Thi Xanh.

Rain or shine, the classes regularly take place at the village cultural center. Thanks to her perseverance, about 600 people, from elementary school students to elderly people, have learned the Thai script and gained access to many traditional cultural aspects that seemed on the verge of disappearing.

The more she taught literacy, the more she realized the reality: many families still lived in poverty, relying solely on farming year-round, with unstable incomes, and their children lacked the opportunity for education. "I teach literacy, but seeing the villagers struggling to make me uneasy. Preserving culture must go hand in hand with helping each other develop economically so they have food and clothing," Ms. Xanh shared.

Based on that idea, in 2022, she and several dedicated members established an intergenerational self-help club, aiming to support the elderly, disadvantaged children, and especially to help women develop their production. Initially, the club only had 75 members, but thanks to its effective operation, the model quickly spread and now attracts hundreds of households.

Ms. Xanh spoke with a member of the intergenerational mutual support club in Hoa Tien village.

The club is organized into small groups based on the strengths of each family: community tourism, brocade weaving, animal husbandry, farming, basket weaving, culinary arts , etc. Each group has a leader and operates relatively professionally.

Lighting a fire in the mountains and forests

The unique aspect of this model is the "borrow and repay" principle, deeply rooted in community spirit. Wealthier households lend livestock such as pigs, chickens, and cows to poorer households. The recipients care for the animals, and when they reproduce, they return one animal, using the rest to expand their herd.

The club also assigns work shifts to support each other, provides vocational training, shares handicraft orders, connects with tourists, and helps each other sell their products. As a result, all the products made are sold, and sometimes there isn't enough produce, meat, or fish in the village to meet the demand.

Not only is she the "keeper of the flame" of Thai culture, Ms. Sam Thi Xanh is also the founder of a livelihood support model that has helped hundreds of households escape poverty.

Ms. Sam Thi Hong, who escaped poverty thanks to joining the club, said: “Before, my family was very poor. Since joining the club, we have had capital to raise silkworms, grow mulberry trees, and weave brocade. Sometimes foreign customers order thousands of scarves, and we divide the work among ourselves. Besides farming, my family earns an extra 5 million dong each month.”

Two years since the establishment of the intergenerational club, the economic landscape of Hoa Tien village has changed dramatically. Many poor households have become more prosperous, some have boldly opened homestays, developed brocade products into souvenirs, and listed their products on the province's e-commerce platforms. Not only have they escaped poverty, but the villagers have also preserved the cultural treasures of the Thai ethnic group and transformed them into unique products to develop tourism.

For her enduring contributions, in 2022, Ms. Sam Thi Xanh was awarded the title of "Outstanding Artisan" by the President of Vietnam in the field of preserving intangible cultural heritage. In 2023, she received a Certificate of Merit from the People's Committee of Nghe An province. In 2024, she was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Prime Minister for her outstanding achievements in developing community-based models. Despite this, she remains humble: "I only contributed a little effort. Today's achievements are thanks to the unity and collective efforts of the entire community."

Even in her sixties, Mrs. Sam Thi Xanh remains busy with literacy classes, embroidery and weaving workshops, and club meetings to discuss product sales. This petite woman has never allowed herself to rest, because for her: "As long as I have the strength, I will continue to help my fellow villagers and preserve the culture of my ancestors."

Thanks to that dedication and enthusiasm, Hoa Tien village, once impoverished, has become a shining example in the province, preserving its cultural identity while achieving sustainable economic development.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Hung, Chairman of the Chau Tien Commune People's Committee, said: "Ms. Sam Thi Xanh is a shining example in the commune. She is not only passionate about collecting and teaching culture, but also plays a significant role in connecting and helping many households escape poverty. The economic models of the club operate effectively, spreading the spirit of solidarity and self-reliance within the community."

Source: https://tienphong.vn/nguoi-phu-nu-thai-vuc-day-sinh-ke-cho-ban-ngheo-post1802293.tpo