Chi tiết tin - Sở Ngoại vụ

In Dakrong Commune, the delegation visited a broom-making group under the “Moving Forward” project, implemented by Plan International Vietnam with funding from the Embassy of Ireland in Vietnam. The story of Ms. Ho Thi Lang, a 40-year-old woman from the Van Kieu ethnic group, vividly illustrates the project’s positive impact. Born with muscle atrophy in her legs, unable to attend school, Ms. Lang married early and assumed the burden of earning a livelihood at a very young age. Over the past two years, through her participation in the project’s broom-making group, she has received vocational training, tools, and materials, gradually generating a stable income of approximately VND 1.8 million per month.

Although modest, this income holds profound significance for Ms. Lang as it is the first money she has earned through her own labor. Beyond improving her living conditions, the project has helped her change her mindset, gain confidence, and take a more proactive role in shaping her children’s future-especially encouraging her daughter not to rush into early marriage but to focus on education and building a career. After listening to her story, Ms. Bhagyashri Dengle emphasized that this is a powerful example of the transformative impact of providing opportunities to women, particularly ethnic minority women and persons with disabilities, and a story that Plan International hopes to share across many other countries.

The delegation then visited the Brocade Textile Cooperative of young women in La Lay Commune-an exemplary initiative that links sustainable livelihoods with the preservation of Pa Co ethnic cultural identity. The case of Ms. Ho Thi In, a 19-year-old young mother and the main income earner of her family, highlights the tangible changes brought about by the project. Previously, her family relied on cassava farming with an unstable annual income of less than VND 8 million. Since joining the cooperative, Ms. In has earned an additional stable income of VND 2-2.5 million per month.

With support from the project, members have been provided with looms, sewing machines, and computers, as well as guidance on product design, market access, and online sales. The cooperative space is not only a place to generate income but also a supportive environment where young mothers can share child-rearing experiences and support one another in daily life. From traditional brocade fabrics, the group has developed an increasingly diverse and creative range of products, including handbags, clothing, accessories, and even wedding dresses featuring Pa Co motifs. After more than one year of operation, the cooperative proudly achieved OCOP three-star certification-an important milestone affirming both the economic and cultural value of the model.

This initiative is supported by the Belgian Directorate-General for Development Cooperation (DGD Belgium) and implemented by Plan International Vietnam, contributing to the economic empowerment of ethnic minority women and girls while preserving and promoting local cultural identity.

Throughout the implementation of these projects, the Quang Tri Provincial Department of Foreign Affairs has played a vital bridging role, working closely with Plan International and the authorities of Dakrong and La Lay communes in advocacy, procedural support, and creating favorable conditions to ensure the projects are implemented effectively and in line with their objectives. The active engagement of local authorities has helped the models quickly translate into practice and respond directly to the needs of the community.

The visit by Plan International’s senior leadership not only acknowledged the concrete results achieved but also reaffirmed the sustainable value of these projects in transforming lives, changing mindsets, and unlocking the inner strength of communities. It further reinforced the effective partnership between Plan International, the Quang Tri Provincial Department of Foreign Affairs, and local authorities, toward the shared goal of inclusive development where no one is left behind.

Kim Vui