Starting with... newspapers

(Baonghean) - For a long time, Ms. Ha Thi Hang (born in 1967) in Xieng village, Mon Son commune (Con Cuong district) has been known as a dynamic woman who has made many contributions to the restoration of the traditional brocade weaving craft of the Thai ethnic group, helping to create jobs and increase income for women. But few people know that Ms. Hang's successes and contributions stem from reading and learning through newspapers and media...

Ms. Hang was born and raised in Muong Qua, in a large family with many siblings, so she didn't have the opportunity to pursue further education. After finishing 7th grade, she had to stop her studies. Like many girls in Muong Qua, she diligently worked in the fields and rice paddies year-round, eventually getting married and having children. Ms. Hang still vividly remembers that about 10 years ago, while attending a Women's Association meeting at the village cultural center, she happened to read an article in the Nghe An newspaper about the revival of brocade weaving in Quy Chau. She read it over and over again, pondering every detail.

This article reflects the reality that the traditional brocade weaving craft of the Thai ethnic group in Nghe An is facing the risk of extinction because most women are chasing after industrial textile products, showing little interest in traditional textiles. As a result, looms are being put away in corners, and the sound of shuttles clicking is no longer heard in the villages. Faced with this reality, women in Quy Chau have made every effort to restore and preserve brocade weaving, a cultural identity of the Thai ethnic community. This work has received enthusiastic support from local authorities and the people. Thanks to this, many women have eagerly joined weaving groups, and brocade weaving villages are gradually being formed.

That night, Ms. Hang returned home unable to sleep. She noticed that the content of the newspaper article reflected many similarities to her hometown of Muong Qua. She also wished to contribute to the restoration of the traditional brocade weaving craft in her homeland. The Mon Son - Muong Qua region is also the "capital" of the Thai ethnic minority, with its beautiful cultural traditions passed down and preserved for generations. However, like in Quy Chau and many other places, the brocade weaving craft in Muong Qua is also facing the risk of disappearing. From a very young age, Ms. Hang was taught by her grandmother and mother how to spin yarn, reel silk, and operate the shuttle. Growing up, she became one of the most skilled weavers in Xieng village. Now, she has decided to mobilize the women in her village to revive the brocade weaving craft. She doesn't know where to start or how to do it, but she is determined to succeed.

From then on, Ms. Ha Thi Hang regularly read newspapers, seeking out information and learning about the methods used in other localities. Newspapers also provided her with information about the market, demand, and consumer preferences for brocade weaving. After some time, she had formed a preliminary plan to revive the brocade weaving craft. First, Ms. Hang went from house to house, persuading women in the village to form a weaving group. Initially, the women were hesitant, fearing that their time and effort would be wasted if the products didn't sell, while they were busy with farming. Ms. Hang used the newspapers as evidence, and seeing the logic in her plan, the women began to follow her. Not long after, Ms. Hang's weaving group had 7 members, then 10, then 20 members. Thanks to Ms. Hang's efforts, in 2008, the Mon Son Handicraft Cooperative was established with a total of 60 members, with Ms. Hang as its chairperson. The cooperative's function is to produce and trade traditional handicrafts such as brocade weaving, rattan and bamboo weaving, and traditional dishes of the Thai ethnic group (bamboo rice, mooc, cheo...).

Ms. Ha Thi Hang introduces brocade textile products to customers.

Fortunately for Ms. Hang, the Mon Son Handicraft Cooperative was established at a time when the Thai ethnic community was striving to restore its cultural identity, with the use of traditional clothing being a top priority. As a result, the cooperative's brocade products sold out as soon as they were produced. The income of the members increased steadily, and their lives improved. Through the media, Ms. Hang also learned about organizations and individuals who could help the cooperative develop and expand its production and business, and sought out opportunities for cooperation and assistance.

Currently, as the head of the cooperative, Ms. Ha Thi Hang is continuing her efforts to develop the Mon Son brocade weaving village. She shared: “My work is getting busier and busier, but I still make time to read newspapers every day. Reading newspapers has helped me a lot in my work; all my ideas and plans come from the pages of newspapers…!”

Tuong Anh