Special club in the parish

Support to overcome difficulties

More than 3 years ago, the family of Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Ly - a teacher at Quynh Lam Secondary School (Quynh Luu) was in a difficult situation, the couple had to struggle to survive on the meager salary from their teaching job.

Knowing the difficult situation of Ms. Ly, the Club of female workers, civil servants, and Catholic laborers of Quynh Luu district (hereinafter referred to as the Club) has called for and received support from organizations and individuals. After many days of campaigning, the club has supported Ms. Ly's family with nearly 5 million VND. That amount of money was used by Ms. Ly to buy chickens and pigs for breeding. Up to now, her family's flock of chickens often has dozens of chickens, the batches sold bring a meaningful source of income to cover their living expenses.

The club of female workers, civil servants, and Catholic laborers in Quynh Luu district has 100% Catholic members, the largest in the province. Photo: Tuyet Nhung

Ms. Ly's case is one of many members that the Club has received support for over 11 years of operation. Ms. Ho Thi Tuyet Nhung - Principal of Quynh Thanh Commune Kindergarten, Chairwoman of the Club said: Carrying out the campaign to study and follow the moral example of Ho Chi Minh, the Club has encouraged members to participate in practicing thrift in the movements "Rice jar savings" and "money saving tubes".

“We encourage the women to save a can of rice each time they cook, and 10,000 VND each time they go to the market. This amount of rice and money saved will be used to support club members in difficult circumstances, and is a source of encouragement for the women to improve their lives,” said Ms. Nhung.

The Quynh Luu District Club of Catholic Women Workers, Civil Servants and Laborers is probably the club with the largest number of Catholic members among the social clubs in the province. Established in October 2008 with 73 members, the club now has more than 150 members, 100% of whom are Catholic women. The members come from many different professions such as teachers, doctors, nurses, civil servants... but the common point among the women is the spirit of mutual love, mutual assistance, and helping each other in times of trouble and difficulty.

In addition to the fund contribution regulations according to the Club's regulations (10,000 VND/person/year), Club members also voluntarily save and contribute more to the fund to have a source of living, visit members when they are sick, mourn, or celebrate each year from 5,000,000 VND - 6,000,000 VND, give gifts to excellent students at the provincial level, or those who pass university entrance exams, who are children of the Club's members from 50,000 VND - 100,000 VND/child.

Talking about the meaning of the Club, Ms. Nguyen Thi Sinh - a teacher at Quynh Thanh Kindergarten said that although each person has different family circumstances, level of awareness, and occupation, when coming to the Club, there are no more boundaries but only sharing, supporting, and helping each other to solve problems in daily life. The Club is truly a second home for each sister...

In order for members to actively participate in activities, the Executive Board always seeks and creates appropriate and lively content and forms of activities. Many activities have been organized by the Club in the form of art and drama to convey the topics and content for each activity.

“Every time we meet, the women participate with great enthusiasm and the hall is always packed with people. The goal of the club is to create an open, sharing and rewarding environment so that each woman always feels that participating in the club will benefit a lot,” said Ms. Nhung.

Every year, the club gathers twice to disseminate the law to its members. Photo: Tuyet Nhung

Raising awareness of life

Not only helping each other improve the family's life, the club is also a place to help women raise awareness of legal regulations and issues that occur in life.

Every year, the Club organizes activities focusing on the occasions of March 8 and October 20. Each activity focuses on specific topics such as population work - family planning; preventing and combating domestic violence; preventing and combating superstition; State policies and laws... To make it easier for women to absorb, the activities are presented in the form of dramatization, question and answer contests...

Recently, in Quynh Luu district, there have been a number of complicated issues that have affected the psychology of the people in general and women in particular. In this situation, through regular meetings, the Club's Executive Committee has integrated these issues, thereby helping women understand the situation clearly and not have distorted thoughts that lead to illegal behavior.

“Thanks to such activities, no member of the Club has given birth to a third child or more, and no children or relatives have committed social evils or broken the law. Notably, two members have been admitted to the Party, and four members have been promoted to State management positions in the Education sector,” added Ms. Ho Thi Tuyet Nhung, Chairwoman of the Club.

The activities are presented in a dramatic form so that members can easily absorb them. Photo: Tuyet Nhung

With 100% of its members being Catholics, in addition to social issues, the Executive Committee has built the common goal of the Club “Living a good life and living a good religion”. Many female members have actively participated in the campaign “All people unite to build a cultural life in residential areas, living a good life and living a good religion” launched by the Vietnam Catholic Solidarity Committee and local emulation movements.

Through the movement, women have matured in all aspects of work, promoting their intelligence and capacity to perform well the functions of workers, mothers, wives, and family managers. Seven women have achieved the title of "Good at public affairs, good at housework", and Emulation Fighter at the grassroots level.

It was found that most of the club members were born and raised in farming families with difficult family circumstances. However, they have tried to excel in their studies and work to make a breakthrough to become workers and civil servants.

Ms. Ho Thi Tuyet Nhung - Club President affirmed that in the coming time, the Club will continue to promote the patriotic emulation movement, the movement of being good at national affairs, taking care of housework associated with the movement of women actively studying, working creatively, building happy families, and implementing well the content of "Living a good life, good religion".

After 11 years of operation, the club members have contributed more than 20 million VND, from which they have lent interest-free loans to women in difficult circumstances; contributed to the ward and association to help each other develop family economy; purchased household items for the family...