Women of Tran Phu - a pillar of support through the storms

By supporting housing construction, creating jobs, and increasing income, the Women's Union of Tran Phu commune has become a pillar of support for many poor women and those with particularly difficult circumstances, helping them rise above their challenges in a land once heavily damaged by natural disasters and the silent storms of life.

Ms. Cao Thi Quang in My Luong village (Tran Phu commune) next to her old house. Photo: Kim Nhue

Women who weather the storm

Arriving in Tran Phu commune on the afternoon of December 11th, it was easy to notice the transformation of the locality after the 2025 rainy season and floods. Roads and infrastructure projects to mitigate the consequences of the floods and prevent flash floods are being urgently completed by the local authorities before the end of the year. Amidst this urgency, new houses are emerging, brighter, sturdier, and gradually replacing the old tiled houses that had withstood countless flood seasons.

In the late afternoon, shrouded in mist, we, along with officials from the Tran Phu Commune Women's Union, visited the home of Ms. Cao Thi Quang (born in 1966) in My Luong village. Her old house was in serious disrepair: the walls were peeling, the roof tiles crumbling, and the low floor created potholes whenever it rained. Standing on the doorstep, her hands clasped together, her voice soft but clear: "The old house is in terrible condition… but my children and I haven't saved anything. Luckily, the Commune Women's Union guided us in borrowing capital from the Social Policy Bank. Otherwise, with our limited resources… I wouldn't dare think about building a new house."

In just a few days, Ms. Quang and her children will move into their new home, filled with warmth and love. Photo: Kim Nhue

Looking at the house under construction behind her, she continued, more softly: "Thanks to government support, and the help from relatives... I was able to do it, otherwise I couldn't have done it alone."

When she talks about her son – born in 2003 and already working for a few years – her face lights up with quiet joy: “He loves me so much; he sends me all the money he earns to help build the house.”

Ms. Quang's words are not flowery, but their simplicity speaks volumes about the quiet journey of a single woman in a rural area still rife with prejudice. Without delving too deeply, everyone understands the silent storms she has had to weather.

Ms. Cúc lives next to her old, dilapidated house. Photo: Kim Nhuệ

Leaving Ms. Quang's house, we visited Ms. Cuc, a particularly disadvantaged case in the area. Born in 1973, she suffers from many chronic illnesses: heart, lung, and stomach problems, requiring regular treatment. Her old house, inherited from her parents, had a low tiled roof, crumbling walls, and crumbling plaster after heavy rains – it was no longer safe for her and her child. In her newly completed house, she leaned against the door frame, her voice hoarse, her eyes red and teary: “Many nights, when I had heart attacks, I was afraid I wouldn’t live to raise my child. The house leaked, it flooded… my child and I would hug each other and cry. Now that we have a new house… I’ll try to live as long as I can… so my child can focus on her studies.”

The association official accompanying them shared: "Ms. Cúc is very weak and can't do heavy work. The association is planning to contact agencies, schools, and businesses to find her a cleaning job, something light, so she can have a steady income." A small idea, but enough to ignite hope for long-term stability for the mother and daughter.

With the support of the government and relatives in building a new house, Ms. Cúc and her children no longer worry during the rainy season and floods. Photo: Kim Nhuệ

The story of Ms. Nguyen Thi Luat takes on a different nuance. Raising her son, who is in his second year of university, alone, she works various jobs – construction laborer, dishwasher, house cleaner – to cover his tuition fees. Speaking slowly but surely, she says, “I’ll do anything… as long as he doesn’t drop out of school. He’s studious and academically gifted… I’ll do my best.” Each month, she regularly takes out a small loan guided by the Association, just enough to cover his study expenses and prevent debt from piling up.

These stories share a common thread: the women of Tran Phu have weathered two storms – natural disasters and storms "not even on the weather map." It is from these most vulnerable places that healthy, polite, filial, and academically successful sons have grown up like green shoots emerging from storm-stricken soil. This is the inherent strength of these mothers, silent yet resilient.

Continuing the role of power

Tran Phu is a large commune, covering over 44 square kilometers with a population of over 47,500 people, encompassing both semi-mountainous and low-lying areas. It is also one of Hanoi 's key disaster-prone regions, frequently affected by flash floods, storms, and inundation. In this context, women – especially single mothers, poor women, and women in special circumstances – are even more vulnerable.

Leaders of the Hanoi City Women's Union and Tran Phu commune congratulate the Executive Committee of the Tran Phu Commune Women's Union for the 2025-2030 term. Photo: Hong Dao

The Women's Union of Tran Phu commune has taken persistent steps to become a pillar of support for women. In 2025, the Union managed 34 savings and loan groups, with a total outstanding loan balance of over 63.1 billion VND, supporting 1,162 households – mostly poor and near-poor women. Many livelihood models formed from this capital have helped women expand production, stabilize income, and avoid falling back into poverty after natural disasters.

The entire commune has over 4,100 members participating in 32 branches. In 2025, the Association mobilized and donated over 135 gifts to disadvantaged women and children; maintained the "Godmother" program supporting 2 orphans with a total of 20 million VND/year along with learning materials. During natural disasters, the Association mobilized 95 million VND and 1,109 gifts worth 220 million VND to support people in flood-affected areas.

Many small but impactful initiatives are regularly maintained, such as "Collecting scrap materials to raise funds for charity," and "Saving money by raising pigs in plastic containers"—this model raised 315 million VND, of which 15 million VND was allocated to charitable activities; along with "Green Sunday" activities, training on preventing high-tech crime, and communication on gender equality and safety for women and children.

The Women's Union of Tran Phu commune organized visits to encourage and support its members in the area. Photo: Nguyen Phan

Speaking with a reporter from Hanoi Moi Newspaper, Nguyen Thi Phan, Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Tran Phu Commune, shared: "Helping women is not just about building houses or providing loans. The important thing is to help them feel valued and entitled to a better life. When women become stronger, their children become stronger, and the entire community becomes more stable…"

Newly completed homes, children continuing to attend school, timely loans… these are the clearest evidence of the Association's role in empowering women – in line with the spirit of "leaving no one behind".

According to Nguyen Nguyen Hung, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Council of Tran Phu commune, the achievements of the Women's Union of the commune in the past have made an important contribution to the social welfare of the locality, especially in the context of complex natural disasters.

"We have identified supporting women, especially vulnerable women, as a long-term task. The Party Committee will continue to create conditions for the Women's Union to better fulfill its role in poverty reduction and building a compassionate community," Comrade Nguyen Nguyen Hung emphasized.

The Women's Union of Tran Phu commune visited and encouraged the relatives of its members in the area. Photo: Nguyen Phan

These results lay the foundation for the Tran Phu Commune Women's Union to enter the 2025-2030 term with a clearer vision. The Union identifies its greatest priority as enhancing the economic empowerment of women, especially poor women and single mothers who are still disadvantaged. The Union aims to expand livelihood models suitable to local conditions, increase the number of women with stable employment through business linkages, and continue to increase policy credit to support women starting businesses.

In addition, activities such as "Godmotherhood," "Accompanying Children," and building safe communities for women and children will be sustainably maintained to ensure that no child's educational opportunities are interrupted due to family circumstances. The Association also focuses on innovating its methods of operation, applying digital transformation, and increasing connectivity between the Association and grassroots women so that all support reaches the right people, meets the right needs, and is provided in the most timely manner.

No storm lasts forever, and when women are given the opportunity to stand firm, the support of the community is the light that helps them weather the storm and reach a more peaceful and sustainable life.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/phu-nu-tran-phu-diem-tua-vuot-giong-bao-726526.html