Female youth leader in the mountainous region

(Baonghean) - After many appointments, I finally had the opportunity to meet the female leader of Que Phong district (Nghe An) Sam Thi Thanh. Right from the first meeting, she left me with the impression of a Thai girl from the mountainous region speaking gracefully, although gentle but containing firmness and determination.

Born in 1978, in a family of 6 siblings, from Chau Binh commune, Quy Chau district, but followed her family to live in Que Phong district since childhood. After graduating from high school, she passed the entrance exam to Nghe An Pedagogical College. Here she participated in union activities, which were extremely valuable experiences that helped her work more effectively in attracting young union members. In 1999, after graduating from school, she was accepted to work at Tien Phong 4 Primary School (Que Phong), both teaching and continuing to participate in local union activities. A year later, she was transferred to work at the District Union.

Secretary of Que Phong District Youth Union - Sam Thi Thanh

She confided that Que Phong is a border district, the people's lives still face many difficulties, the level of education is still low. Currently in Que Phong there are 4 communes without electricity, no phone signal, especially the communes far from the center (the farthest is 74km), so exchanging information, going to the grassroots is also difficult, most of the young people do not finish high school, follow their families to work in the fields, awareness of the law is very limited, the number of young people violating the law is still high.

Although she has to take on the responsibilities of being a wife and a mother (her eldest daughter is 7 years old, her son is 2 years old), she has received support from her family, especially her husband, because he was also a district youth union officer, promptly encouraged and shared his valuable experiences with his wife. Due to the large number of young people in the locality, when there are community activities and volunteer activities, it will attract a large number of young people to participate, without them having to hesitate or worry about personal interests. The important thing is that the youth union officers must be sociable, go deep, get close and truly grasp the aspirations of the youth to guide them to integrate into the youth union movement.

She said: “In October 2007, due to the impact of storm No. 5, Que Phong district had very heavy rain, causing flash floods in many places, the most severe damage was in Nam Giai commune, with 17 people dead and more than 60 hectares of rice fields lost. Immediately after that, the district youth union mobilized more than 200 youth union members to Nam Giai to help people overcome the consequences of the flash floods. Upon arriving, without anyone telling them to, everyone rolled up their pants and shirts and rushed to work.

Currently, Que Phong district has nearly 13,000 youth union members, including 3,846 union members, and 92% of them are ethnic minorities. Along with ideological education and propaganda activities for youth union members, the district union focuses on helping youth union members build the economy. The district has over 100 youth economic models recognized by Nghe An Provincial Union as highly effective, such as: cow and goat farming model of youth in Muong Noc commune; model of raising ducks, black chickens, and crossbred pigs in all communes... The youth union force, together with mass organizations in the district, propagates and mobilizes people to build new rural areas, and mobilizes people to donate land to build infrastructure. Implementing the direction of the superior union, in 2011, there were more than 100 projects and youth tasks undertaken by the district union, such as: building temporary bridges, helping people dredge canals, building 2,000 livestock barns for poor households. The district also established a Youth Entrepreneurship Fund, which from 2006 to present has attracted 80 million VND in capital, lending to young people with an interest rate of 0.6%/year. After 2-4 years, if the loan model develops well, it will continue to be lent, or transferred to other union members in need of loans.

For many years, Que Phong District Youth Union has always been the leading unit in the Youth Union and Youth Work of Nghe An Province. Ms. Sam Thi Thanh has been recognized by Nghe An Provincial Youth Union for many consecutive years as an excellent Youth Union cadre with special contributions; and has been recognized by the Standing Committee of Que Phong District Party Committee as a Party member who has excellently fulfilled her duties.

Quang An