October’s Blossoming Flowers: Women Making a Difference

Connecting Women with Opportunities to Thrive

After nearly three decades of service with the Women’s Union, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, Vice Chairwoman of the provincial Women’s Union and head of the Women’s Affairs Division at the provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, remains firmly dedicated to helping women secure stable livelihoods, gain financial independence, and assert their roles within their families and society.

Drawing on her grassroots experience, she has been instrumental in proposing and implementing various initiatives aimed at helping women launch businesses and enhance their production and commercial activities.

One of her significant accomplishments was the establishment of the provincial Women Entrepreneurs’ Club, which currently has 84 members and offers a platform for networking, sharing experiences, and fostering business growth.

She has played a key role in the establishment of 12 cooperatives and 59 women-led cooperative groups, enhancing production connections, expanding market access, and supplying safe agricultural products to supermarkets and online shopping platforms.

To Thao, entrepreneurship holds true significance when concepts are transformed into tangible outcomes and allowed to flourish in the market.

As a result, startup festivals have prioritized product promotion, building partnerships, and identifying market opportunities more intensely.

Worried about the livelihoods and living conditions of women, Thao has made Union activities for underprivileged groups, especially female migrant workers living in the area, a top priority.

In Da Lat and its neighboring regions, she has collaborated with local Women’s Union organizations to set up 11 groups following the model “Temporary Resident Women Participating in Women’s Union Activities” across 11 locations, gathering over 670 members.

These groups enable female workers in agriculture, horticulture, and food services to receive information, legal advice, loan guidance, healthcare services, and help in locating schools for their children. These practical measures offer additional support and assist women in gradually stabilizing their lives.

To support particularly disadvantaged families, particularly orphaned children, Thao has diligently gathered resources for the "Godmother" initiative, raising over VND 10 billion to assist nearly 180 orphans. Three children suffering from brain atrophy in Duc An Commune have received lifelong financial support.

Additionally, she has facilitated funding for the construction of more than 60 homes under the "House of Compassion" initiative, improving the living conditions for underprivileged families.

Through her ongoing commitment to the Women’s Union, Thao has continually sought to gather resources and create opportunities that empower women to overcome difficulties and improve their lives. In acknowledgment of her efforts, she was awarded the Third-Class Labor Order by the State President.

Standing Alongside Women in Poverty

For Nguyen Thi Lien, member of the Standing Committee of the provincial Women’s Union and Deputy Head of the Women’s Affairs Division at the provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, assisting women in poverty involves more than just providing immediate help.

It is crucial to offer them access to funding, knowledge, and resources that enable them to develop their household economies independently.

Throughout her tenure as Head of the Family, Social Affairs, and Economic Affairs Division, she encountered numerous disadvantaged women, especially those from ethnic minority groups.

She identified insufficient capital, a lack of knowledge of production techniques, and challenges in accessing financial services as significant obstacles that prevented many women from improving their circumstances.

“If the Women’s Union only provides gifts and short-term assistance, that is not enough. If we want women to stand on their own feet with confidence, we must give them a reliable fishing rod — preferential loans and guidance on how to use them effectively,” Lien said.

Following this approach, she has concentrated on advising the management and effective utilization of policy-based credit funds to ensure that loans are directed to the appropriate beneficiaries and meet their production and business needs.

To enable women to maximize these funds, Lien has stressed the importance of training and support in utilizing loans for their designated purposes, enhancing production knowledge, and broadening access to financial services.

She contends that issuing loans is merely the initial step; the primary focus should be on assisting women in managing production independently, generating employment, and boosting their incomes.

Her initiative at the provincial level in 2025 related to the project “Supporting Women-Involved and Women-Managed Cooperatives to Create Jobs for Female Workers in the 2024–2030 Period” exemplifies this approach.

She also advised on the implementation of the “Startup Incubator” model and helped mobilize VND 1.2 billion to establish a safe vegetable production and supply chain under the Hanh Phuc brand in Don Duong. Her efforts also supported the establishment of five cooperatives and 59 women-led cooperative groups.

With enthusiasm, responsibility and dedication, Lien has quietly stood alongside women living in poverty for many years. Seeing women in disadvantaged areas gain confidence and improve their lives is a source of joy and motivation that continues to inspire her work with the Women’s Union.

Protecting Women Through Knowledge and Action

With a background in law, Lam Phuong Khanh, a member of the Executive Committee and expert at the provincial Women’s Union, has opted to empower women by utilizing her professional knowledge in Union initiatives.

Her efforts concentrate on enhancing legal awareness, safeguarding the rights of women and children, and fostering gender equality.

In every task she undertakes, she emphasizes practical recommendations that help members understand the law and take proactive measures to protect themselves and their families.

She has provided guidance on bolstering legal education, overseeing and scrutinizing social policies related to women and gender equality.

Additionally, she has organized training workshops, communication campaigns, consultations, and legal aid services at the grassroots level, benefiting thousands of Women’s Union members.

Key topics include preventing domestic violence, child abuse, human trafficking and drug-related harm, as well as promoting safety in cyberspace.

To improve women's access to legal information, Khanh has recommended the establishment of 10 “Women and the Law” clubs and three “Women Against Human Trafficking” clubs. These groups serve as a platform for members to enhance their knowledge, address legal issues, and share challenges they encounter in their daily lives.

In matters pertaining to the rights of women, children, and other community members, she collaborates with local Women’s Union organizations to track developments and suggest appropriate actions, thereby helping to protect the legal rights and interests of those affected.

Over the last three years, while providing guidance on women's economic development and executing various elements of Project 8 focused on gender equality, Khanh has consistently leveraged her professional expertise and experience. She played a role in reviewing Project 939, “Supporting Women’s Startups in the 2017–2025 Period,” and assisted in promoting exceptional local startup products.

Furthermore, she has been involved in drafting over 80 documents for implementing assigned responsibilities and took part in more than 50 meetings and outreach activities at the community level.

Moreover, she has provided guidance on training programs that encompass entrepreneurship, business management, financial literacy, effective capital utilization, and e-commerce. These efforts have bolstered the capacity of women-led businesses, cooperatives, and cooperative groups.