'New things' of Huoi Vieng village women

Everyone is a propagandist

Huoi Vieng is a village that plays an important role in the border defense of Dooc May commune. The village has 93 officials, members, and Mong women. Of these, 30 are members of the Club "Women participating in protecting national sovereignty and border security". "Only when the border is peaceful can the village and hamlet be peaceful. The responsibility of protecting the border belongs to the entire population, so women cannot stand aside" - that is the affirmation of Ms. Vu Y Ca - Head of the Club, a quick-witted and friendly Mong woman.

Huoi Vieng village, Dooc May commune (Ky Son). Photo: HT

Established in 2017, the Club now has 30 members. Every 3 months, the Club conducts activities to propagate and mobilize women and people to comply with legal regulations related to national borders, advise people not to violate border regulations, illegally enter and exit the country; not to fall into social evils such as drugs, women trafficking, participate in building cultural villages, and practice a civilized lifestyle...

The club also coordinated with Na Loi Border Guard Station and women's associations at all levels to organize propaganda, eradicate the poisonous plant, raise awareness, and eliminate the inherent ideology that still exists in the community, which is to use death by poisonous plant to liberate a part of the mountainous people.

Through the activities, the Mong women Club members are aware of their roles and responsibilities in participating in protecting and maintaining border security. Whenever they discover anything unusual while working in the fields, they promptly report it to the authorities and functional forces for handling. Club members also participate in patrolling the border, border markers, and protecting the border with the border guards stationed in the area.

Whenever they discover anything unusual while working in the fields, members of the "Women participating in protecting sovereignty and border security" club in Huoi Vieng village promptly report it to the authorities and functional forces for handling. Photo: CCCS

They are also active propagandists, encouraging their family members and villagers to strictly comply with the policies, laws of the State and locality, and to implement regulations in the prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic. They also actively participate in cultural, artistic and other activities in the locality...

Members of the "Women participating in protecting national sovereignty and border security" club in Huoi Vieng village not only participate in protecting the border but also help each other develop the economy. Photo: CSCC

After 5 years of operation, with the attention of the Party Committee, the government, the Women's Union of the commune and the Na Loi Border Guard Station, the Club has had many initiatives in activities to attract members to participate such as: building a model of "Rice Saving Jar" to support women in difficulty.

At each club meeting, each member brings a bag of rice to put in a jar. Ms. Vu Y Xia in Huoi Vieng village - who recently received nearly 30 kg of rice from the club's members - was moved to share: "Helping each other shows the sharing, caring, and love of the members, so I am very touched, I promise to overcome difficulties to rise up...".

Women of Doc May commune participate in protecting border security with officers and soldiers of Na Loi Border Post. Photo courtesy of Hoai Thu.

Through discussion, Ms. Lau Y Du - President of the Women's Union of Dooc May commune said: When the Covid-19 epidemic was complicated, members of the "Women participating in protecting national sovereignty and border security" Club of Huoi Vieng village regularly coordinated with the Women's Union of the commune and branches of mass organizations to donate food, necessities to visit, encourage and support the forces performing the tasks of border management, protection and prevention and control of Covid-19 at the Vietnam - Laos border checkpoints.

Not resigned to poverty

Not only participating in protecting village security and order, firmly protecting territorial sovereignty and national border security, women in Huoi Vieng village also boldly innovate their thinking to help each other develop the economy, eliminate hunger, reduce poverty, and stabilize their lives.

The clean vegetable growing model brings a stable source of income to women in Huoi Vieng village, Dooc May commune. Photo: CSCC

We were led by the Club's Chairwoman Vu Y Ca to visit the green vegetable growing model of the women in the Club. Ms. Vu Y Ca said: After much consideration, the Club's Board of Directors decided to divide into 2 groups to develop the economy according to the wishes and actual conditions of the women. Group 1 consists of 10 members who will contribute 1 million VND each to support each other to buy breeding cows.

Up to now, after 5 years, the group has bought 10 cows for 10 members, with a total value of more than 150 million VND. The cows are growing well, some of them have given birth. Group 2 is larger, with 20 members, taking advantage of the mountain slopes and hillsides to implement a vegetable growing model, mainly Mong cabbage and clean melons, with an average annual harvest of about 100 million VND. The total income from previous years to now is more than 450 million VND.

Besides growing clean vegetables, members of the "Women participating in protecting national sovereignty and border security" club in Huoi Vieng village also help each other develop livestock farming. Photo: CSCC

Vegetables are consumed in Huoi Tu commune, Muong Xen town and sometimes sold downstream. This year, due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, the consumption of vegetables on an area of ​​about 4 hectares of the women in the Club is difficult, but currently, the model is continuing to exploit, estimated to generate an income of 65 million VND by the end of 2021. For example, in the year, Ms. Vu Y Lau harvested melons in one crop for 11 million VND, Ms. Va Y Xi earned 11 million VND, Ms. Ly Y Do earned 8 million VND, Ms. Vu Y Xia earned 8 million VND, Ms. Ho Y Xong earned 7 million VND...

Mustard gardens not only bring economic value but also create beautiful landscapes in Huoi Vieng village. Photo: CSCC

Thanks to their diligence and boldness in changing their thinking and ways of doing things, many families of Mong women in Huoi Vieng village have become typical examples of economic development in their villages and hamlets. For example, Ms. Ho Y Xong's family has a farm raising 30 cows and 15 buffaloes; Ms. Lau Y Pa's family has 30 buffaloes and 15 cows...

The good news spread far and wide, the efforts to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty of the members of the Club "Women participating in protecting national sovereignty and border security" in Huoi Vieng village have been recognized when the economic development model not only attracted localities to visit and learn from the experience, but in 2021, the Women's Union of Ky Son district also awarded a Certificate of Merit for the typical startup model.

The clean vegetable model of Mong Huoi Vieng women attracts many agencies, units and localities to visit and learn. Photo: CSCC

Talking to us, comrade Vi Van Khuon - Secretary of the Party Committee of Dooc May commune said: With many activities bringing practical results, the Club "Women participating in protecting national sovereignty and border security" in Huoi Vieng village has helped many member families develop their economy, stabilize their lives, and at the same time, contribute to protecting security and order in villages and hamlets, firmly protecting territorial sovereignty and national border security.

A corner of Huoi Vieng village, Dooc May border commune, Ky Son. Photo courtesy of HT

It is also a good sign showing that Mong women in border villages are increasingly changing their thinking and working habits, affirming their role and position in the family and in the community.

Khanh Ly