Walking in the same rhythm in Pieng Pho village

(Baonghean) - The day we arrived at the village, we witnessed the women's union members of Pieng Pho village, Pha Danh commune (Ky Son district) bringing rice to hand to Mrs. Luong Thi Bien, 80 years old, whose family is single and often sick. Mrs. Bien was moved to share: "My mother is old and weak, currently living with her daughter-in-law, who has been sick and has been in the provincial hospital for more than 6 months. Although living at home is difficult, my mother is at ease because the women give her rice. The women also take turns to visit and help with housework regularly. Thanks to the women, my mother and her family have more motivation to improve their lives." With these practical actions, the Women's Union has created positive changes in the thinking and working style of each member and family in the village.

Pieng Pho village has 62 Thai ethnic households, the village Women's Association has 35 members. In recent years, the women's association members have actively built happy families, participated in developing the family economy, practiced thrift... Although the lives of the members are still difficult and arduous, with the spirit of mutual love and support, the women have joined hands to build and maintain the "Rice Saving Jar" model from 2008 to present. For nearly 7 years, the women here have donated 600 kg of rice to help 7 families in difficult circumstances, lacking food during the lean season; at the same time, they donated 2.25 million VND to visit 45 sick women, 1.8 million VND to visit 3 policy families, and hundreds of working days to build houses for poor households...

Pieng Pho village women develop livestock farming. Photo: Hp

At the same time, the Women's Union also disseminates knowledge to members on how to raise healthy children, take care of good children; environmental sanitation and disease prevention in the village. Every week, the women in the village participate in cleaning the village roads, mobilizing families to move livestock and poultry out of the stilt houses and concentrate them in 2 separate confinement areas far from the living area, ensuring hygiene. Therefore, people as well as livestock are less susceptible to diseases than before. 20 members also join hands to reclaim the alluvial land between the two streams flowing through the village with an area of ​​about 3,000m2 to grow vegetables. Each season has its own products, the women not only serve the needs of their families but also have products to sell to the market in Muong Xen town. Their vegetables do not use pesticides, so they are favored and ordered by consumers. Over the years, members have always promoted the spirit of self-learning from experience in production and animal husbandry, gradually bringing in high incomes such as boldly converting swidden fields to banana plantations for high incomes, typically Ms. Lo Thi Hoa earns 2-3 million VND per month. In addition, they also maintain and develop the traditional weaving profession of the Thai ethnic group to increase family income during the off-season and preserve national identity.

Thanks to the improved economy, the whole village now has only 10 poor households, accounting for 16.12%, while the poverty rate of the whole commune is 65%, the number of families with cultural titles accounts for 71.43%. For many years, the association has not had any women giving birth to a third child, there have been no cases of early marriage, incestuous marriage, or domestic violence. In the past 5 years, the association has completed its tasks excellently, the village has no drug addicts or violators of social evils... Since 2010, Pieng Pho village has been recognized by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee as a provincial-level Cultural Village.

Ms. Luong Thi Hoa, Head of the Women's Union of Pieng Pho village, said: "We continue to mobilize women to reclaim and improve more land to grow vegetables and corn. At the same time, increase the banana growing area to promote livestock development and actively donate rice to support policy families, single women, and help each other with production experience"... Ms. Vu Thi Huyen, Vice President of the Women's Union of Ky Son district, affirmed: From good practices that bring practical results, women of Pieng Pho village have contributed to changing the awareness and actions of each family. The women are increasingly closer to each other in life, uniting to help each other escape poverty, working together to build a strong union organization, a prosperous and happy family. The district union is directing the replication of the model for branches in other villages...".

Tran Van Duc

(Ky Son District Party Committee)