Empowering women to overcome difficulties

To support its members and women entrepreneurs, the Women's Union of Vinh Thuan Dong commune has implemented many practical programs tailored to local conditions. Through activities such as vocational training support, job placement, and connecting with preferential loan sources, many members and women have confidently developed their businesses and gradually stabilized their lives.

The craft of weaving water hyacinth has helped many women in Vinh Thuan Dong commune to stabilize their lives.

Ms. Tran Nguyen Thu Hai, Chairwoman of the Women's Union of the commune, said: "The biggest difficulty for women from poor and near-poor households in the commune is the lack of capital and means of production. Based on this reality, the Union proactively coordinates with the local government to provide timely support and create conditions for women to confidently develop their family economies ."

One of the effective solutions implemented by the Women's Union is organizing vocational training classes suitable for rural women, such as: weaving water hyacinth, garment making, cooking, and vegetable farming. Many vocational training classes are opened in hamlets, allowing women to learn a trade while also taking care of their families. Ms. Le Thi Thanh, from Hamlet 7, shared: "Knowing my difficult circumstances, nearly three years ago, the Women's Union of the commune created opportunities for me to learn water hyacinth weaving. With a skill, I take advantage of my free time to take work home to increase my income. Each month I earn more than 3 million VND, helping my husband provide for our children's education."

Beyond vocational training, the Women's Union of the commune focuses on coordinating and organizing training courses to transfer scientific and technical knowledge and introduce job opportunities for its members. From 2021 to the present, the Union has opened 7 vocational training classes attracting 350 women; provided career counseling and job placement services for over 3,000 women working in companies and factories inside and outside the city; and created regular employment for approximately 2,500 local women workers. Simultaneously, the Union maintains and expands effective employment models such as garment processing cooperatives, small-scale trading, and water hyacinth weaving. The Women's Union of the commune always supports its members by connecting them with preferential loan sources from banks, helping them invest in machinery and raw materials, expand production, and gradually establish sustainable livelihoods.

With a 70 million VND startup loan from the Women's Union of the commune, Ms. Le Thi Le in Hamlet 5 excitedly shared: "I will invest in developing a plastic rope weaving model at home. I believe that with hard work, I can generate a decent income by Tet (Lunar New Year)." With the supported capital, Ms. Le plans to purchase raw materials, weaving frames, and tools for production. At the same time, she will gather other skilled women in the hamlet to participate, organizing production by taking orders home to work on, thus creating jobs for women locally and reducing labor costs.

By focusing on supporting women through practical programs and activities, during the 2021-2025 period, the Women's Union of the commune helped 46 women's households escape poverty and near-poverty; and supported 180 women in starting businesses and achieving success. In addition, the Union helped connect and successfully develop 9 products that meet OCOP standards.

Ms. Tran Nguyen Thu Hai, Chairwoman of the Women's Union of the commune, affirmed: "With the support and practical solutions, the Women's Union of the commune, together with the local government, will continue to create opportunities for members and women to learn vocational skills, start businesses, and develop sustainable livelihoods, contributing to increasing income and stabilizing their lives."

Text and photos: CAO OANH

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/tro-luc-cho-phu-nu-vuot-kho-a195750.html