For nearly 23 years, the people of E Cam village, Krong Ana commune, have regarded village elder Y Om Knul as a close family member, often seeking his advice and guidance on both major and minor matters. As a respected figure with a deep understanding of the law and the customs, traditions, and conventions of the Ede people, elder Y Om has skillfully and flexibly applied this knowledge to various situations, disseminating information, mobilizing support, and mediating disputes.
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| Mr. Y Om Knul, the village elder and respected figure in Ê Căm hamlet, Krông Ana commune, reminded the villagers to focus on their work and not to sell their land and fields. |
Buôn Ê Căm has 527 households with 2,646 inhabitants, with ethnic minorities accounting for over 73%. Whenever there are conflicts or disputes between couples or neighbors over land in the village, Elder Y Om, along with the village's mediation team, self-governing groups, and community organizations, goes to the scene to educate the villagers. For each case, he thoroughly investigates, applying the provisions and regulations of the law and the customary laws of the community and locality to explain things in a way that is both reasonable and compassionate. As a result, the villagers gradually understand, respect, and follow his advice.
In cases of marital conflict or school violence, Elder Y Om analyzes the pros and cons to help both sides recognize their mistakes. Thanks to his reputation, Elder Y Om is also invited to mediate disputes in other villages throughout the province and has successfully mediated many cases, helping numerous families mend their relationships, focus on their work, and care for their children.
Previously, the villagers in Ê Căm had a custom of holding funerals for 4-7 days, slaughtering buffalo and chickens, and holding feasts outside the cemetery, which was both costly and unsightly. Elder Y Om, along with the Party branch committee, self-governing bodies, and various organizations in Ê Căm village, propagated and encouraged the villagers to adopt a civilized lifestyle in weddings and funerals. They also contributed 100,000 VND per household to buy tables, chairs, and tents, entrusting them to the heads of the Êđê clans to manage and lend to other households for use during weddings and funerals. This approach has helped the villagers gradually abandon outdated customs.
Not only did Elder Y Om encourage families in the village to actively participate in donating land and contributing labor to expand roads and build new rural areas, but he also mobilized young people, women, and farmers in the village to learn welding, construction, tailoring, and animal husbandry. He also established construction and tailoring groups to create jobs for themselves right in the village and develop their family economies .
Ms. H'Jim Byă, a resident of Ê Căm village, expressed: "Thanks to the elders' propaganda and persuasion, the people have abandoned many outdated customs, preserved the traditional longhouse, and no longer perform as many rituals as before. Every family focuses on making a living and doesn't sell their land or fields."
Buon Rung is the most disadvantaged of the three ethnic minority villages in Krong Ana commune. With limited arable land, the villagers mainly work as laborers in nearby brick kilns. Therefore, in the past, the villagers paid little attention to their children's education. Children in the village often dropped out of school early to get married and work far away. Consanguineous marriages still persist. Recognizing this as the "bottleneck" that keeps the villagers trapped in a cycle of poverty and backwardness, Mr. Y Bang Bkrong (65 years old), a respected figure, along with the village's self-governing committee and various organizations, focused on raising awareness and encouraging villagers to prioritize and invest in their children's education.
Krông Ana commune has 26 villages, hamlets, and residential areas, home to 25 ethnic groups, with the Êđê being the most numerous. To educate and mobilize the people, the commune focuses on promoting the role of village elders and influential individuals. They have become key figures in uniting the community, helping people change their mindset and practices, build a cultural life, and maintain peace in their villages. Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Krông Ana Commune, Dang Thi Kim Tuyen |
His footsteps traversed every village and hamlet. Whenever a family had children of school age, Mr. Y Bang would personally explain the benefits of education, emphasizing that literacy would prevent them from being deceived and that a degree would make it easier to find work in companies and factories. If he didn't find anyone the first time, he would go a second and third time. Touched by his dedication, the villagers gradually understood and changed their minds, no longer allowing their children to drop out of school early.
Along with educating the elderly, Mr. Y Bang also educates the younger generation. During community gatherings or occasions when villagers and children gather, Mr. Y Bang incorporates messages about the Marriage and Family Law, analyzing the consequences of child marriage and consanguineous marriage, reminding the children not to drop out of school, marry early, or marry within their extended family. He also encourages villagers and young people in the hamlet to wear traditional Ede ethnic clothing during festivals, weddings, and housewarming parties to preserve their cultural heritage.
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| Mr. Y Bang Bkrong, a respected figure in Rung hamlet, Krong Ana commune, regularly meets with and encourages young people in the hamlet to focus on their work and livelihoods. |
In developing the family economy, Mr. Y Bang has propagated and encouraged people not to leave land fallow, but to utilize garden land to build pig and chicken pens, or to grow grass for cattle, and to grow vegetables to improve their meals.
Source: https://baodaklak.vn/xa-hoi/202510/nhung-hat-nhan-gan-ket-cong-dong-2e3164d/
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