The "tall, shady trees" of the village.

(Baonghean) - Not only setting an example in economic development, many village elders, community leaders, and influential people in Tan Ky have contributed to preserving cultural identity, building a cultured way of life, and strengthening community bonds. They deserve to be called the "pillars of honor" of their villages.

Upon arriving at Dong Tho hamlet, Nghia Dung commune, the locals enthusiastically directed us to Mr. Ha Van Than's house, and everyone praised him, saying, "He's a respected figure in the village!" Meeting Mr. Than, we realized that the villagers cherished him not only for the property he had built, but more importantly, as a prime example of a Tho ethnic minority leading the way in poverty alleviation efforts in the commune.

Like many households in the mountainous district of Tan Ky, Mr. Ha Van Than's family has always been involved in farming, cultivating corn and rice. However, with his dynamism and foresight, Mr. Than realized that relying solely on food crops wouldn't lead to prosperity. So, he decided to expand his livestock farming. He keeps buffaloes, cows, pigs, and chickens in his barn, and fish in his pond. This integrated farming model (VAC) in the semi-mountainous region has proven effective. Recognizing the limited availability of agricultural services in the area, his family invested in a milling and feed processing facility. They also purchased multi-functional plows and rice threshing machines to serve the needs of local people. Thanks to this proactive approach, his family earns between 200 and 300 million VND annually.

Along with developing his family's economy, Party member Ha Van Than, together with the Party Committee and the Party Branch of Dong Tho hamlet, wholeheartedly guided the people on how to do business and created conditions for families to borrow interest-free capital to develop their economy. To date, Mr. Than has lent interest-free loans to 9 households, with each household receiving 15 million VND, of which 6 have escaped poverty. When the State launched the new rural development program, Mr. Than went to each house, meeting with each person to encourage them to contribute their labor and efforts. As a result, many households voluntarily donated land, contributed materials, and provided labor to build a clean and beautiful concrete road. Mr. Than shared: "To make people understand and follow, I myself must always be a role model, not just in words but through concrete actions and deeds."

Mr. Truong Van Chat (second from the left) is giving a presentation on preserving and promoting cultural values ​​to the local people.

Mr. Truong Van Chat, residing in Doi Che hamlet, Giai Xuan commune, is revered by everyone as a "pillar of strength and influence." Mr. Chat tirelessly went from household to household, persuading residents to voluntarily donate 4,500 square meters of land, 100 meters of fence, and hundreds of perennial trees for road construction. Thanks to his efforts, the hamlet now boasts 500 meters of concrete road. However, his greatest concern is developing the hamlet's emulation movements, mobilizing residents to contribute to the purchase of a set of gongs and drums worth 6 million dong. Every year, on the National Unity Day, when the sound of the gongs and drums resonates, everyone gathers at the hamlet's cultural center to participate in cultural and sports activities. Traditional folk games such as throwing the "con" (a type of ball), stick pushing, tug-of-war, and courtship singing have been maintained, preserving the cultural identity of the Tho ethnic group and fostering a spirit of unity and solidarity among the people.

Ms. Hoang Thi Oanh, a resident of Doi Che hamlet, also said: "Previously, whenever we had hamlet meetings, people had to bring chairs to sit on. Now, thanks to Mr. Chat's efforts, the hamlet has the funds to complete the cultural facilities and infrastructure for community activities. The hamlet has built a cultural center and a volleyball court, with the residents voluntarily contributing 50 million VND. With Mr. Chat's efforts, the people of Doi Che hamlet have eliminated outdated customs such as extravagant feasting during funerals and weddings; he also successfully encouraged 140 couples to practice family planning. As a result, for three consecutive years, Doi Che hamlet has had no one giving birth to a third child."

Wherever he appears, he brings peace and joy. Therefore, Mr. Nguyen Van Thong, a member of the Tho ethnic group in Bau Khe village, Giai Xuan commune, is affectionately called "the mediator" by the villagers. Throughout his role as a mediator from 2002 to the present, Mr. Thong can't remember how many mediation cases he has participated in. Just since the beginning of this year, he has successfully mediated three cases. For example, the case of Mr. T.V.D. and Ms. T.N., whose marriage was on the verge of collapse due to Mr. D.'s alcoholism. Mr. Thong met with each of them individually and then discussed the situation with both spouses. He explained to Mr. D. how his excessive drinking would affect his health, happiness, and family life, especially since he was the breadwinner of a family of five.

Regarding his wife, he encouraged and sympathized with the difficulties she was enduring, while also advising her to give her husband another chance. It was these kind and reasonable words that convinced Mr. D to quit drinking, and Ms. N was also forgiving. When we met him, Mr. D hesitantly said, “It’s a private family matter, but thanks to people like Mr. Thong who helped… otherwise, I don’t know what would have happened to my family.” Similarly, in the case of the conflict between young people from Doi Che hamlet (Giai Xuan commune) and Bau Khe hamlet, where the two groups gathered with machetes to “settle things,” Mr. Thong quickly informed the commune police to intervene, mediating the dispute and fostering a friendly relationship between the youths of the two communes.

Individuals like Mr. Ha Van Than, Mr. Truong Van Chat, and Mr. Nguyen Van Thong are exemplary among the 56 respected figures in the ethnic minority communities of Tan Ky district. For many years, they have effectively fulfilled their responsibilities, becoming the core of the movement for economic development and cultural life in their communities, especially pioneering the new rural development movement. Commenting on the contributions of these village elders and community leaders, Ms. Vu Thi Linh, Deputy Head of the District Ethnic Affairs Department, stated: Twelve out of 22 communes and towns in the district are inhabited by ethnic minorities. In recent years, the movement of village elders has done many meaningful good deeds, mobilizing the people to build new rural areas.

To date, the people of the entire district have donated 372,671 square meters of land, of which ethnic minority households alone have donated 90,950 square meters, contributing over 1.35 billion VND and nearly 20,000 man-days of labor to build rural roads and other local projects. In economic development, ethnic minority communities have shifted the structure of crops and livestock, improved farming methods, and applied scientific and technological advancements to production. Typical examples include Tan Xuan and Giai Xuan communes, which have switched from rice cultivation to sugarcane cultivation, yielding high productivity of 80-100 tons/ha; the development of forest plantations for raw materials in Phu Son, Tien Ky, Dong Van, Tan Hop, and Huong Son; and the VACR (Vegetable, Animal, and Crop) economic model in Giai Xuan, Nghia Binh, and Nghia Dung communes.

With dedication to their work, consistency between words and actions, and setting a shining example in every action for the prosperity of their people, the village elders, community leaders, and influential figures among ethnic minorities in Tan Ky district have been and continue to make important contributions to economic and social development, accelerating the progress of building new rural areas, and contributing to building an increasingly prosperous and beautiful homeland.

Quang An