The woman "leading" the transformation of gender awareness in Ta Rut

Ms. Ho Thi Hang and the Executive Committee of the Women's Union of Ta Rut commune regularly organize activities to improve the spiritual life of women - Photo: TCL

Talking about gender equality (GEA) in the villages of Ta Rut commune a few years ago, Ms. Hang sighed: “Back then, in the village, women only knew how to stay at home, take care of the kitchen and the fields. The big decisions in the house or outside the village were all decided by men. If women spoke up, they were considered rude. It had been like that for generations, everyone was used to it.”

As a child born and raised in A Pul village, Ta Rut commune, Ms. Hang understands better than anyone the invisible barriers that women here are facing. From education, work, to marriage, women often do not have the right to decide. Domestic violence (DV), early marriage, and incestuous marriage still occur, leaving many consequences. She said: “There are children who are only 15, 16 years old and have already gotten married. There are women who have to endure beatings and curses for many years. But they accept it, because they think that is their fate.”

Then, in 2022, Project 8 "Implementing gender equality and solving urgent issues for women and children" was implemented, and all levels of the association organized training on gender equality, prevention and control of domestic violence, reproductive health care for women and children (WCH), the role of parents in caring for and educating children...

With the thought that women are not born to stay in the kitchen, in the role of Chairwoman of the Commune Women's Union, Ms. Hang enthusiastically participated and then encouraged women to attend classes. Ta Rut Commune has 1,291 households, with 4,986 ethnic minority people. The first meetings only had a few women.

She persistently went to each house, talked to them, and explained to them their rights, that “women also have a voice, the right to study, to work, and to be happy”. Gradually, the number increased, and men also actively participated in the project’s activities. Mobile communication classes on gender equality and domestic violence prevention organized by the district and commune Women’s Unions within the framework of Project 8 have become a place for villagers to share, learn, and change their perceptions.

Not only that, Ms. Hang also encouraged and motivated members of the Community Communication Team, "Trusted Address in the Community" to regularly organize talks with people about adolescent reproductive health care, preventing early marriage, domestic violence... Thanks to Ms. Hang's dedication and enthusiasm and the consensus of the people, the awareness of the people of Ta Rut commune is gradually changing positively.

Up to now, after more than 3 years of implementation, the Women's Union of Ta Rut commune has supported the establishment and operation of 7 "Community Communication Team" models at 7/7 branches, maintaining the "Trusted Address" model established with support from the Provincial and District Women's Unions.

Organized 8 communication campaigns on gender equality, prevention of child marriage, prevention of domestic violence in the commune, organized a forum to exchange and share experiences in implementing the model of "Community Communication Team". In addition, the Commune Women's Union coordinated with the Provincial and District Women's Unions, the Executive Board of the Plan project in Ta Rut commune to organize 5 communication campaigns; 2 commune-level policy dialogue conferences on prevention of child marriage and drugs, gender equality and some urgent social issues for women and children with the participation of 450 women.

Not only actively participating in training courses, Ms. Hang is also a person who boldly applies the knowledge learned into real life, becoming an inspiration for the women in the village. Women in the village now not only do well in family work but also actively participate in community activities and production and business. Ms. Hang said: "Previously, no one in the community thought that women could do well in economics.

After attending the training courses, my family boldly plowed and broke the ground to plant 200 dwarf banana trees. I also guided other women to follow suit. Up to now, the Ta Rut Dwarf Banana Cooperative has 18 members participating, with 2,160 bunches of bananas harvested and sold to the market each year.

Overcoming difficulties, we have boldly connected and promoted indigenous dwarf banana products for sale at OCOP stores and Dong Ha Coop mart Supermarket. Total income is about 90 million VND/year/household. Currently, the whole commune has 118 women's households who are self-sufficient in their family economy thanks to growing bananas, cajuput, green beans, raising goats, chickens... These small but effective economic models help women earn more income and be more confident in life."

Chairwoman of the Dakrong District Women's Union Nguyen Thi Ty said: “Since Project 8 was launched, people's awareness of gender equality has changed significantly. In particular, thanks to Ms. Ho Thi Hang, women in remote villages of Ta Rut commune have dared to speak up, act, and boldly participate in production cooperatives and emulation movements, improve household economy, and contribute to the overall socio-economic development of the whole commune. Domestic violence, early marriage, as well as prejudices and gender discrimination have also decreased significantly, and people's lives have become warmer and more united.”

In the past 3 years, the number of domestic violence cases in Ta Rut commune has decreased by over 90%, the number of women participating in cooperatives and economic models has increased 3 times. The number of child marriage cases decreased from 7 cases in 2023 to 2 cases in 2024, there were no cases of incestuous marriage in the commune. The number of students dropping out of school decreased from 21 to 11. From the above efforts and endeavors, Ms. Ho Thi Hang was awarded a certificate of merit by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for the women's movement and women's union activities in 2021 and many certificates of merit and certificates of merit by the Provincial Women's Union and Dakrong District People's Committee.

Despite her busy work and difficult life, Ms. Ho Thi Hang still maintains an optimistic spirit and is passionate about community work. She confided: “I still have many concerns, I want to organize more vocational training classes for women, open anti-violence clubs, so that no woman in the village will suffer any more.”

Tran Cat Linh

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/nguoi-phu-nu-dau-tau-chuyen-doi-nhan-thuc-gioi-o-ta-rut-193092.htm