Giving 'fishing rods' to escape poverty to women in the highlands of Nghe An

Behind that achievement, Women's Unions at all levels play an important role in the process of accompanying and supporting to create a solid foundation for women in difficult areas to receive the "fishing rod" to escape poverty.

A solid support in the village

In recent years, the appearance of Pao village, Quyn village and many other villages inside Quang Phong commune, Que Phong district has changed a lot when the intra-village and inter-village roads were completed and put into use. The remote and isolated villages of the past now have the conditions to communicate with the outside world.

Seizing that advantage, local women's associations at all levels have stepped in to encourage and accompany women here to develop economic models. Unable to hide her excitement, Ms. Lo Thi Mai - President of Quang Phong Commune Women's Association led us to visit the economic models of typical members in the commune.

Model of growing acacia and developing her integrated farm on Huoi Sup hill (Pao village) by Ms. Luong Thi Hoai (born in 1981). Photo: Thanh Quynh

Stopping in front of a spacious house at the foot of Huoi Sup hill in Pao village, Ms. Mai said that on this hill there are more than 4 hectares of acacia trees about to enter the harvest period of member Luong Thi Hoai (born in 1981). Not only Huoi Sup, other hills of Pao village such as Huoi Hang Tan, Huoi Po Pong were all reclaimed by her family to plant acacia trees with a total area of ​​over 10 hectares.

Previously, each hectare of acacia was contracted to traders at a price of less than 27 million VND, but now, when the transportation system has been improved and transportation costs have decreased, the income can double. Along with that, Ms. Hoai and her mother-in-law Luong Thi Nga (born in 1957) have also developed a herd of over 10 pigs, 15 cows and 2 fish ponds on the farm premises.

Looking back at the achievements she has made, Ms. Luong Thi Hoai always silently thanks the support of the local Women's Union at all levels. Not only did they support her in completing loan procedures during the model expansions, but they also accompanied her in the process of transferring science and technology, training and visiting successful models in the area to improve her knowledge.

Now, not only Ms. Hoai but also many members such as Sam Thi Phuong (born in 1983), Lang Thi Tuyen (born in 1984), Luong Thi Lai (born in 1982) have also successfully built economic models.

The Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Quang Phong Commune, Que Phong District (in blue shirt) and other women's unions at all levels in the area always accompany and support Ms. Luong Thi Hoai in the process of developing the economic model. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Understanding the need to accompany and support in the process of building a poverty reduction model, every year, the Women's Union of Que Phong district has proactively coordinated with relevant departments and branches to organize vocational training classes, training in livestock and crop farming techniques, and mobilize members to actively participate in order to gain knowledge to apply in production. Organize for grassroots union officials to visit and learn from effective economic models in the area inside and outside the district, propagate to local women's union members and units to build economic development models, such as building a local black chicken breeding cooperative in Thong Thu, Dong Van, Nam Giai communes, and a model of a group linking to raise cinnamon ducks in Chau Thon commune. Up to now, many member households have built suitable economic models and become well-off households.

It is known that the whole Que Phong district currently has over 300 women's member households with incomes from 100 to 300 million VND. The members are increasingly asserting their role as heads of their families, boldly investing in production, livestock farming, economic development, contributing to poverty reduction and economic development in the area in a sustainable manner.

Looking at the whole province, the women's unions at all levels have truly become a solid support for members to improve their capacity, contributing to enhancing women's economic power by supporting the establishment of 41 cooperatives with 624 members. At the same time, consulting, connecting, accessing information and markets for 570 women's enterprises; supporting the establishment of 41 new women's enterprises in a systematic and effective manner. Many women in mountainous, remote and isolated areas have become more confident to boldly establish enterprises and expand their business and production when they are effectively shared and accompanied by the unions at all levels in the area.

Improving vocational training for rural and mountainous women

Participating in the brocade weaving training course organized by the Quy Hop District Vocational Education and Continuing Education Center in collaboration with the Lien Hop Commune Women's Union is extremely meaningful for Ms. Lang Thi Hien in Long village, Chau Thai commune, Quy Hop district. Because along with farming work, Ms. Hien now has more skills and experience to stick with the weaving profession, creating a stable source of income from this second job.

Training in brocade weaving for women in Quy Hop district. Photo: Nghe An Provincial Women's Union

Along with her, many women in the village were able to study for free for more than 2 months. Access to new patterns, new designs, and new implementation methods has helped the products made meet the increasing demands of the market to create a significant additional source of income.

Understanding the needs of women in the area, the District Women's Union coordinated with departments, branches, unions, vocational schools in the province and district to organize short-term vocational training courses on animal husbandry, cultivation, veterinary medicine, and brocade weaving for members.

In 2022 alone, the Women's Union of Quy Hop district coordinated with the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of the district to open 6 vocational training classes for more than 270 female workers to participate. Once they have mastered their skills, many women have found stable jobs for themselves. Not only in the domestic market, 55 female workers have gone to work abroad in the Korean and Japanese markets.

It is known that in recent times, the Women's Union of Nghe An province has continued to direct all levels of the Union to strengthen the propaganda of the Party and State's policies on vocational training for rural workers, especially disadvantaged workers; promote career counseling and orientation for female workers.

Women's Unions at all levels have coordinated with many units inside and outside the province to support many female members in creating sustainable economic models to escape poverty. Photo: Nghe An Provincial Women's Union

In 2022, the provincial Women's Union at all levels coordinated with the Department of Industry and Trade, the District Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, vocational training centers, local businesses, Industrial Promotion Center, Agricultural and Fisheries Promotion Center to open vocational training classes and introduce 14,133 female workers to participate in vocational training at other facilities. The occupations that attracted the participation of many female members were industrial sewing techniques, food processing techniques, animal husbandry techniques, bamboo and rattan weaving, brocade, and mushroom growing techniques. Since then, 11,023 workers have had jobs with an income of 3.5 - 5 million VND/month.

In addition, women's associations at all levels have coordinated to organize conferences, seminars to consult and introduce jobs for 8,869 female workers in the area to work at garment companies, industrial parks, local businesses and labor export. Through the above effective programs and activities, Nghe An women, especially in rural, remote and ethnic minority areas, have found a sustainable way to escape poverty. Contributing significantly to the overall development of localities in particular and the whole province in general.