The secret to effective mass mobilization of the "2-in-1" female Party Secretary

Bearing the burden on both shoulders.

Born in 1990, Vu Thi Huyen has held numerous positions, starting with the Youth Union movement at the grassroots level. Before becoming the Secretary of the Nghia Thuan Commune Youth Union and concurrently the Secretary of the Party Branch of Hamlet 3, Nghia Thuan Commune (Thai Hoa Town), Huyen had previously served as the Hamlet Youth Union Secretary and then as the Head of the Front Committee of Hamlet 5B, Nghia Thuan Commune. Later, Hamlet 5B and Hamlet 3 merged to form Hamlet 3, with 407 households, making it the most populous hamlet in Nghia Thuan Commune.

Vu Thi Huyen (far right), Secretary of the Nghia Thuan Commune Youth Union, guides union members in preparing for the activities of the National Unity Day.

The petite and agile Vu Thi Huyen, in her role as Head of the Front Committee, advised the Party Committee to direct departments, agencies, and mass organizations to adhere to the Party Committee's Resolution and the guidance of the higher-level Front Committee. She mobilized the people to participate in numerous agricultural extension training courses, such as those on livestock farming, veterinary medicine, and fruit tree cultivation techniques, and to learn about scientific and technical advancements for intensive farming and increased crop yields. This promoted the shift in crop and livestock structure, contributing to the development of household economic activities. Organizations facilitated loan applications for members from the Policy Bank to invest in livestock and poultry farming. Many households achieved high profits, significantly improving their family income, such as the households of Mr. Nguyen Van Dung and Mr. Cao Van Hiep.

Based on these practical results, people became more enthusiastic about the content implemented by the Party branch, and many households started building economic development models such as raising goats, raising cattle, carpentry, aluminum and glass work, small-scale trading, or going abroad for work...

The lives of the villagers gradually improved. This led to enthusiastic participation in cultural and artistic activities, as well as educational initiatives. Therefore, when the Party Committee and the Youth Union mobilized the people to contribute money and resources to build new rural roads, the hamlet completed 450 meters of concrete road in a short time, costing nearly 70 million VND. In addition, they dredged canals, built 400 meters of internal field roads, constructed a stage, and renovated the Cultural House, with a total cost of nearly 100 million VND.

All of this was contributed and supported by the people. In addition to material goods, the villagers also donated 29 sets of stone benches and 2 sets of sound systems to serve the cultural activities of the hamlet. Many internal hamlet roads were also planted with flowers and cleaned by youth union members and residents...

The village committee of Hamlet 3, Nghia Thuan, meets with the residents. Photo: Hoai Thu

Before Vũ Thị Huyền assumed the role of Secretary of the Commune Youth Union, she was the Secretary of the Youth Union in Hamlet 3. According to the introduction by the Commune Party Secretary, Phan Văn Chung, the Hamlet 3 Youth Union branch was always "a leading example in the Youth Union work of Nghĩa Thuận commune, one of the strongest and most exemplary branches for many years, and had been recognized by the higher-level Youth Union as a branch that had excellently completed its tasks for five consecutive years." Having grown up through the enthusiastic contributions of the Youth Union, Vũ Thị Huyền is now the Secretary of the Party Branch in Hamlet 3 of Nghĩa Thuận commune. However, as the head of Hamlet 3, Nguyễn Phong Lưu, said, "People rarely distinguish between Ms. Huyền as the Youth Union Secretary or the Party Branch Secretary. They only look at her activities and the actual results to trust and support her. She carries two burdens, but they support each other to do even better."

Fostering solidarity between Catholics and non-Catholics.

After the merger, Hamlet 3 of Nghia Thuan commune was jokingly called the "super hamlet" by the locals because it has more than 400 households, of which about 50% are Catholic, including Hamlet Head Nguyen Phong Luu. Mr. Luu has served as hamlet head for more than 20 years. He considers Ms. Vu Thi Huyen, the Party Secretary, both a colleague and a family member because "we always have a high level of consensus in our work, and all our efforts and implementations lead to the goal of unity and happiness," Mr. Nguyen Phong Luu happily stated.

Vu Thi Huyen and representatives from various organizations visited and presented gifts to the mother of fallen soldier Pham Thi Vinh, who is over 90 years old this year. Photo: Hoai Thu

Leading us on a tour of the church grounds, located not far from the house of Hamlet Head Nguyen Phong Luu, we saw that the villagers had just harvested their crops, so the spacious courtyard of Tan Cat Parish Church was covered with golden rice stalks. Mr. Luu further explained that this space, besides being a place of religious worship, is also a venue for many activities that attract large numbers of people. In addition, Hamlet 3 has another place that fosters community cohesion: the hamlet's cultural center, which has long been a meeting place, hosting sports competitions, cultural performances, and activities of various groups in a spirit of unity and sharing.

According to Vu Thi Huyen, given the unique characteristics of the area, uniting the people, whether Catholic or non-Catholic, requires officials, whether Party committee members or village leaders, to work with sincerity and based on democracy and solidarity. Therefore, in addition to guiding the dissemination of the Party's policies and the State's laws, there is also the goal of encouraging Catholic parishioners to live virtuous lives – respecting God and loving the country. And the "secret" to achieving this, as Vu Thi Huyen revealed, is enthusiasm, impartiality, objectivity, and prioritizing the interests of the collective and the people above all else. Therefore, all movements implemented, whether by the Party committee or the Youth Union, stem from this goal. Thanks to this, the area has successfully built the model of "Tan Cat Parish: Peaceful, Free from Crime and Social Evils" for many years, helping Catholic households live peaceful lives and uphold moral values. This model has mobilized various components of both secular and religious organizations to participate, assigning tasks such as patrolling, guarding, reporting crimes, and promptly assisting in detecting individuals exhibiting signs of violating security and order.

The "two-in-one" female Party Secretary Vu Thi Huyen participates in local community activities. Photo: Hoai Thu

Besides the experienced village head Nguyen Phong Luu, Vu Thi Huyen, the Party branch secretary, is accompanied by retired former officials and Party members, as well as officials from the Nghia Thuan Commune People's Committee. Notably, she is also the Party Secretary of Commune 3, Phan Van Chung, who is a member of the Party branch. Vu Thi Huyen happily shared that this is one of the "secrets" that helps a young Party member like herself confidently take on the role of head of the Party branch. While young and energetic, she needs the help and support of her elders to confidently carry out the responsibilities entrusted to her in managing and leading the Party branch.

Along with that support, the Party Secretary of Nghia Thuan commune, Phan Van Chung, said that for many years, the Youth Union movement in Nghia Thuan commune has always been at the top of the town with many practical and effective activities that attract a high number of members and young people. These include campaigns responding to the call of the Fatherland Front Committee of the commune to support the Covid-19 prevention and control fund, with Hamlet 3 alone raising nearly 26 million VND, the most in the commune. In addition, Hamlet 3 is also a locality that strictly implements social distancing regulations; whether Catholic or non-Catholic, people encourage each other to try their best for the safety of the entire community. The Catholic parishioners are very supportive, not going to church but performing Eucharistic rites through the Vinh Diocese's electronic portal or through mobile applications such as Zalo and Facebook. The people here also contributed money and labor to complete a 70-meter-long, 7-meter-wide road from Area 1 to Nghia Loc commune, worth 70 million VND. With the support of the People's Committee of the commune, 30 tons of cement helped to build an additional volleyball court in residential cluster No. 1 and many other items, with a total cost of nearly 250 million VND.

A view of Nghia Thuan commune. Photo: Hoai Thu

Despite being the only individual from Thai Hoa town honored by the Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Department as a model of effective mass mobilization at the provincial level in 2020, Vu Thi Huyen remains humble: "In my work, if I encounter difficulties or need help, I immediately ask those involved. I cannot complete the task well alone. My success is also thanks to the collective support, understanding, and support of my family." Perhaps it is also thanks to this that the "two-in-one" female secretary in this northwestern town has successfully fulfilled her roles as both a Youth Union leader and the head of the Party committee, gradually affirming her capabilities and dedication in building local movements.