In recent years, the Women's Union at all levels in Kim Son district has had many activities to support and help its members and Catholic women develop their economy. Thanks to that, many women are confident and bold in starting their own businesses and striving to become rich right in their homeland.
Born and raised in Kim My commune, a locality with nearly 90% Catholics, where people mainly develop fishing, Ms. Tran Thi Ngoc has always been concerned about finding ways to develop her family's economy. Nearly 4 years ago, while learning about start-up experiences from friends, she realized that the mushroom growing model was very potential and quite new in the locality, so she was determined to build the model.
The couple converted a 600 m2 garden into a factory to grow mushrooms such as oyster mushrooms, straw mushrooms, etc. The initial start-up period was quite difficult due to lack of capital and experience. They both learned and gained production experience from practice.
"When we started growing mushrooms, we experimented with small quantities, all stages from grinding straw, packing... were done manually. After the model became stable, the family invested in machinery, expanded the factory, and hired more workers during the peak mushroom harvest season. On average, each year, my family produces about 80 tons of mushrooms, consumed in Dien Bien, Lai Chau provinces,...", Ms. Ngoc shared.
During the economic development process, Ms. Ngoc always received attention and support from the Women's Union at all levels. After being informed by the Union officials about preferential loans from the Social Policy Bank and the "Women help each other to do good business" movement, she boldly borrowed 100 million VND to invest in production and business.
Like Ms. Tran Thi Ngoc, Ms. Nguyen Thi Theu (Van Hai commune) is always struggling to find ways to get rich on her homeland. Ms. Theu said: "Van Hai commune has a traditional profession of weaving mats and weaving carpets, but the work is quite hard and the income is not worth much. In 2014, I was determined to open a sewing workshop at home, both to enrich myself and to create income for women in the commune. In 2023, when the sewing industry was in difficulty, I was supported by the Commune Women's Union to borrow 100 million VND from the Social Policy Bank to maintain production."
Ms. Theu's sewing workshop currently provides jobs for 10 workers with an income of 5-7 million VND/person/month. In addition, she also provides free vocational training for women and creates conditions for women to receive goods to sew at home. She plans to expand the scale of the workshop to create more jobs for women in the area.
Ms. Ngoc and Ms. Theu are two of many Catholic women members who are good at business in Kim Son district. On their entrepreneurial journey, they always have the companionship and support of the Women's Union at all levels.
Comrade Dao Thi Thanh Thom, Vice President of the Kim Son District Women's Union, informed: "The whole district has more than 20,000 members, Catholic women, accounting for 34.6%. Determining that supporting Catholic women members to develop the economy is a key task, and at the same time a lever to attract members to participate in the organization of the Union, the Women's Union at all levels in the district has implemented many support activities such as propaganda to raise awareness, creating a strong change in thinking and working methods; promoting the movement of women helping each other to develop their economy, building models to help women escape poverty sustainably. In addition, the Union coordinates with sectors to introduce, teach vocational skills, advise and guide members and women to work at companies and factories in and outside the district".
The Women's Union at all levels in Kim Son district coordinated to disburse more than 330 billion VND from the Social Policy Bank to 6,985 households; 125 billion VND from the Agricultural Bank to 711 women's union member households for economic development loans.
In the first quarter of 2024, the District Women's Union directed the grassroots Women's Union to conduct a survey, identify the causes and measures to support women-headed households in 2024. 100% of poor households headed by women received support from the Union, 25/25 grassroots Unions registered to help 50 poor, near-poor, and disadvantaged women's households with addresses.
In addition to mobilizing support resources, the Association also focuses on surveying the needs of members, mobilizing the conversion of suitable crops and livestock; supporting the establishment of economic development linkage groups for women to share experiences and provide guidance and help women in difficult circumstances develop their family economy.
The Vice President of the Kim Son District Women's Union added: "The Women's Union at all levels will continue to promote propaganda and mobilize union members, women in the district in general and Catholic women in particular to compete in the movement "Women help each other develop family economy" and start-up activities.
The Association also coordinates with units to strengthen vocational training and create jobs for female workers in Catholic areas; create favorable conditions for cadres, members and Catholic women to access capital for production and business, contributing to the development of the family and local economy.
Article and photos: Hong Minh
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