On the sidelines of the "Women in Creative Startups and Green Transformation" contest in the Central region in 2024, Ms. Le Thi Thanh Tuyen impressed with her inspirational startup story.
During the conversation, this petite woman with determined eyes took us back to the sunny and windy countryside of Trieu Son (Trieu Phong district, now Trieu Co commune, Quang Tri province), where she lives and started her startup project. Ms. Tuyen confided that she has been disabled since childhood, and life has not been easy. Instead of giving up, she chose to rise up.
For many years, she participated in sports competitions for the disabled and won many provincial awards. Ms. Tuyen once planned to compete in international arenas. After getting married and having children, she decided to stop her sports career and find a new direction for herself.
That is starting a business with a biosafety chicken farming model for eggs, with the desire to improve the lives of herself and her family and inspire women in similar situations.
Start from simple things
"I want to be in charge of my own business to prove that disabled women can also do useful things," Tuyen shared. Starting a business is not simple, especially for a disabled woman living in a rural area with many difficulties like Tuyen.
Ms. Le Thi Thanh Tuyen participated in the "Women Entrepreneurship" contest in 2024 with the theme "Women Entrepreneurship Innovation and Green Transformation" organized by the Vietnam Women's Union.
But she found her way from things close and familiar to farmers, starting from her family's garden.
"Raising chickens is not a new economic model, but not everyone can raise clean chickens that produce high-quality eggs," Ms. Tuyen shared. That was the motivation for the project "Raising safe biological chickens for eggs" by Ms. Le Thi Thanh Tuyen to be formed.
Starting with a scale of 50 free-range chickens, fed organic food, without stimulants, Ms. Thanh Tuyen used a simple but scientifically designed barn model, helping the chickens grow well.
The initial difficulties she encountered were limited capital and harsh weather. Quang Tri land, sometimes scorching hot, sometimes storms and floods, had a significant impact on livestock farming activities. Sometimes chickens got sick en masse, causing heavy economic losses.
But Ms. Tuyen was not discouraged. "I learned my lesson, I had to learn carefully about care techniques and weather rules to have a better plan to prevent epidemics for the chickens. Every time I failed, I learned a lesson," Ms. Tuyen shared.
Starting a business does not need to start with something big, but only with a strong heart. I hope there will be more startup competitions so that women with disabilities have the opportunity to express themselves, learn and spread positive life values. The first time I participated in the "Women's Startup" Competition, I was very confused, but the deeper I went into the inner rounds, the more I gained knowledge and changed my thinking and vision. I hope there will be more competitions like this organized so that women, especially women with disabilities, have the opportunity to participate and develop themselves."
Ms. Le Thi Thanh Tuyen
Choosing the biosafety chicken farming model, Ms. Tuyen hopes that her project will not only create clean products for consumers but also contribute to protecting the environment, not polluting water sources or land.
It was that creativity and spirit of overcoming difficulties that helped Ms. Le Thi Thanh Tuyen's project "Raising safe biological chickens for eggs" pass the preliminary rounds and win the Encouragement Prize at the "Women's Creative Startup and Green Transformation" Competition in 2024 organized by the Vietnam Women's Union.
Ms. Tuyen added that this was the first time she participated in a startup competition. The further she got into the rounds, the more confident she became in the path she had chosen.
Inspiring Women Entrepreneurship
What is special about Ms. Tuyen is not only her story of self-reliance and career development, but also her dream of spreading the value of the model to the disabled community. Ms. Tuyen often shares her experience in raising bio-safe chickens with women in the local disabled women's club.
Ms. Le Thi Thanh Tuyen with the project "Raising safe biological chickens for eggs"
"I hope that women in the same situation as me understand that no one is left behind. Even though they are disabled, if they know how to choose the right model, are willing to learn and persevere, they can still live well, independently and usefully. I also hope that this model will be replicated in other communes, not only to develop the economy but also to create jobs for vulnerable women, women with disabilities, and those who have little access to the labor market," Ms. Tuyen shared.
Currently, the scale of the organic chicken farming model is still small, but Ms. Tuyen said that after each batch, she saves money to multiply the flock and test new chicken breeds, suitable for the harsh weather conditions of the Central region.
"I want to prove a very simple thing: Willpower is not in the body but in the spirit. Even if you are disabled, if you make an effort, you can absolutely take firm steps to start a business. And don't forget, by your side there is always the companionship and support of organizations and groups so that your dream of starting a business soon comes true," Ms. Tuyen affirmed.
The project "Raising safe biological chickens for eggs" by Ms. Le Thi Thanh Tuyen aims to develop the economy, protect the environment and enhance the status of women, especially women with disabilities. The project is expected to be replicated in many localities to improve people's lives and contribute to local socio-economic development.
Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/nu-van-dong-vien-khoi-nghiep-voi-y-chi-kien-cuong-20250721132423624.htm
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