issue 49 - AsiaLIFE Magazine

The Vietnam Women’s Union has been making its presence felt across the nation formore than 80 years. Vu Thi Quynh Giao looks at how the organisation continuesto lead the way for the nation’s women. Illustration by Nguyen Mai Anh.Founded on 20 October, 1930,The Vietnam Women’s Union(VWU) has thousands ofrepresentatives at the national,provincial, city, district andward levels, addressing theplight of women afflicted bypoverty and domestic violence.The state-affiliated organisation’smission is to advance thecause of women and protectingtheir legal rights.The VWU is a pioneer ofmicrofinance, offering creditand saving services enablingstruggling women not only tomake ends meet but also liftthemselves out of poverty andembark on self-sustaining businessventures.Under UNiTE to End Violenceagainst Women, an ambitiousglobal campaign to quashviolence in all its forms againstwomen and girls in every cornerof the world by 2015, the VWUteamed up with the UnitedNations late last year to reiteratethe importance of fighting theubiquitous issue of domesticviolence.During the November 2011dialogue with the UN, the VWUpledged to continue providingsupport to domestic violencevictims, as well as boost awarenessabout the problem withinthe wider community throughzeroing in on men’s awareness.At the groundbreakingexchange, representatives ofUNAIDS and UN Womenalso released research findingsstemming from a 2010 DomesticViolence Study highlighting aconnection between HIV anddomestic violence.While home is where womenare entitled to love and support,for many, it clearly equates torelentless struggle. How can ayoung woman re-integrate intoher family once she has beensaved from prostitution? This isjust one of the many questionsthe Women Union’s of Cau OngLanh Ward is tackling. At agrassroots level, it deals with thechronic problems of domesticviolence and poverty, in whichthe ward’s women are caught inthe grip of every day.The ward’s VWU chairwoman,To Thi My Linh, stressesthis local body’s chief priorityis to ensure that every womanin the area lives with dignity.She and her colleagues committhemselves to working withvulnerable women and streetchildren. Although they receivefunds from the government,Ms Linh admits it’s difficult todo everything as planned andchange is still a long way aheadfor women. No doubt manyother wards face the same seeminglyinsurmountable odds.In a glimmer of hope, eachVWU is a potential partnerthrough which kindheartedpeople can reach out to underprivilegedgroups. The Women’sCharity Association (WOCA)of HCMC relies on the VWUat district level to approachdeserving people.Established in 1989, it currentlyhas 200 members and astrong track record of aiding thepoor, the elderly and underprivilegedchildren, with a focuson females. The associationdonated three cows to underprivilegedfamilies in Vietnam’sCentral Highlands in 2011,making a world of differenceto these families. Yet the trioof cows represents just a tinypart of the association’s creativeefforts to better the lives of millionsof disadvantaged people.WOCA is most proud of whatit’s done for children living inits seven shelters and a specialgirls vocational training facility.“All of those bé trai (boys)and bé gái (girls) are brilliant,”says Doan Le Huong, who hasserved as WOCA’s President forfour years.“Each of them has a littlewound,” she continues. “Somehave parents who passed away,are drug addicts, or live in jail.By providing them with educationand helping each to realizetheir full potential, we haveaddressed a group left out inour society.”And indeed these youngVietnamese have taken up theopportunity to re-enter society’sfold. Aged between eight and16, half of the boys and girlsachieved an overall grade of‘distinction’ last year. Many girlsundertaking their special vocationalprogram have graduatedfrom high school and gone on tobecome technicians, accountantsand teachers. The others arereceiving training in nail art andhairdressing because, accordingto Huong, these young womencan later work as businessownersmaking the most of suchskills.Strategic as it is, the WOCA’sExecutive Committee must constantlyseek grants from foreigncorporations, organisations andindividuals to provide theirbeneficiaries with ongoing support.As Huong says, “They aretoo weak to earn a living amidstour volatile economy." Wellconnectedwith the NGO andcorporate communities, manyretired entrepreneurs serve onthe Executive Committee whichhas secured grants worth up tobillions of dong. Still humble,Huong and her staff attributemuch of their success to thePeople’s Committee and consultationwith the HCMC Unionof Friendship Organizations,which “deeply understands theforeign corporations and organizationsworking in the city”.The association’s funding willcontinue to come from the corporateside, as Huong expects,but it must gain more supportfrom local companies sinceVietnam is becoming a middleincomecountry and foreign aidhas significantly declined. Theyalso hope to attract more volunteers.Technology, translationand donation are area in whichpeople can volunteer to helpWOCA’s disadvantaged womenand children.Summarizing her work withthe association, Huong, like hercolleagues, believes it is rewardingto contribute to “our city,our country”.asialife HCMC 35