Mountain girls - "red seeds" in the highlands

Love for the Party as a natural thing

When coming to Nam Can (Ky Son), asking about Deputy Secretary of the Party Ho Y Nhia, Mong people from old to young all mentioned her with affection and pride. Ms. Y Nhia was born in 1982, a female Mong party member and cadre who grew up from the grassroots.

The fact that Ms. Y Nhia, from a cadre of the Women's Union of the village, strived to become the President of the Women's Union of the commune and was elected to the position of Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the commune, and at the same time a member of the Party Committee of Ky Son district, is a great joy and honor for the Mong people in Nam Can. Because Mong women here have always been confined to the kitchen and the fields. Young women who have not yet reached the age of 15 have a husband and a child, and have not been able to go to school or learn anything, let alone participate in social work. However, with her own outstanding efforts and the help of the Party members in the Party cell and the Party Committee of the commune, Y Nhia has overcome all difficulties to assert herself.

Ms. Ho Y Nhia (second from right) talks with officials of the Women's Union of Nam Can commune (Ky Son). Photo: Hoai Thu

After finishing high school, Y Nhia continued to study at a social intermediate class in Hanoi, a political intermediate class and a distance university. The favorable conditions and motivations that helped her to rise up were the family tradition and the support of her relatives, especially from her husband - a party member Lau Ba Phia - a border guard at Na Loi Border Post and her father-in-law, who was the Party Secretary of the commune. In addition, Y Nhia also had a biological father and two sisters who were also party members. Therefore, according to Y Nhia, "love for the Party and Uncle Ho is ingrained in her blood and flesh as a natural thing".

In a difficult area like Nam Can, there are not many cases like Y Nhia, so in her position, Y Nhia has helped Mong women actively participate in local movements and activities and join the Party's ranks, such as Ms. Lau Y Pa - Head of the Women's Association of Tien Tieu village, Ho Y Zenh - Deputy Secretary of the Commune Youth Union...

Currently, Nam Can Commune Party Committee has 70 female members, including 11 Mong people. They are all exemplary “locomotives” in life, actively participating in social work and village work.

Becoming a party member is a turning point.

For Ms. Vu Y Ca - Vice President of the Women's Union of Dooc May commune (100% Mong ethnic group), becoming a party member is a big "turning point" and a mark in her life. As a native of Huoi Vieng village, trusted by the Party Committee to increase her participation in party activities in Pha Let Phay village, Ms. Y Ca always promotes her spirit and responsibility, actively coordinates with village elders, village chiefs, and prestigious people to propagate policies and guidelines to raise awareness of the Party and the State's laws for the people, eliminate backward procedures, early marriage, and limit the rate of people having a third child...

Thanks to that, instead of working in the fields all year round and staying in the kitchen and house, Mong women in Dooc May have now enthusiastically participated in social activities and strived to join the Party. The whole commune has 10 Mong female party members who are all exemplary models in economic development, building happy families, participating in Party building, building the government, taking care of village and hamlet affairs, and being good at housework.

Ms. Vu Y Ai in Son Ha village, Ta Ca commune (Ky Son) uses a computer to support her professional work. Photo: Hoai Thu

As for Ms. Vu Y Ai, born in 1989, in Son Ha village - the only Mong village in Ta Ca commune, thanks to the Party, she has gradually changed her "way of thinking and doing" in a positive direction, knowing how to apply her knowledge of veterinary husbandry to guide Mong people in general, and women in particular, in techniques of raising livestock, growing crops, developing family economy, and preventing diseases for crops and livestock. In addition, in her position as Vice President of the Commune Women's Union, Y Ai has advised on building many good models such as the clean vegetable growing model in Hoa Son village, fattening cattle in Son Ha village... The young Mong girl is also determined to study part-time university classes in agricultural economics to have the conditions to help her people more in the fight against hunger and poverty.

Multiplying the "red seeds"

Speaking of the pride of Mong women in Ky Son, it is impossible not to mention Ms. Ho Y Mai - Vice President of the District Women's Union. Born in Tien Tieu village, Nam Can commune, married to Huoi Tu commune, although she only finished 7th grade, she overcame all circumstances and has now worked for the union for 32 years. Recalling the time when she became a "Party member" in 1995, Ms. Y Mai emotionally said: "At that time, the whole Ky Son district had only 2 Mong female party members, Ho Y Mai and Ms. Lau Y Chia, former Chairman of the People's Committee of Muong Long commune, so I was very proud and happy."

Chairwoman of Ky Son District Women's Union Vu Y Mai (2nd from right) talks with district female cadres and party members. Photo: Hoai Thu

From her own honor and maturity, Ms. Y Mai actively propagates and mobilizes Mong women to participate in social work and cultural activities; has the opportunity to meet, exchange, learn experiences, and improve in life. Thereby, creating a source of commune Women's Union cadres and a source of party members for the district. Up to now, the whole Ky Son district has 6 commune Women's Union Chairmen who are Mong and all are party members. Not only is she an exemplary and dedicated union cadre, Ms. Ho Y Mai is also a role model in raising children and building a cultured family. Currently, her two sons have both joined the Party and are serving in the army.

Talking about the change in the "thinking and working style" of women in the highlands, Ms. Ho Y Mai proudly said: Social development combined with the attention of the Party, State and community has brought new vitality to the lives of Mong women. Many women, especially female party members in the villages, have been able to go to school, learn a trade, borrow capital to develop the economy, increase their income; boldly participate in social work, express their opinions. Among them, many people are trusted by the Party Committee and government to take on high positions in the political system. This not only shows a "breakthrough" in the work of female cadres in Ky Son, but also a change in the community's awareness of the role and position of women in the highlands in the new period.

Currently, the whole Ky Son district has 5,411 party members, of which 1,291 are female party members (100 female party members are Mong ethnic group). In 2017 alone, the district admitted 5 more female Mong party members... These are the "red seeds" that are nurtured to contribute to creating more prosperous, full, and happy springs for poor villages and poor communes in the highlands and border areas.