Hau Loc district, Thanh Hoa province is a coastal plain district. Over the years, Vietnam Women’s Unions of Hau Loc district and communes under Hau Loc district have always facilitated and supported women, especially poor and near-poor women, to have the opportunity to access loans with preferential rates from different financial institutions. Tinh Thuong One Member Limited Liability Microfinance Institution (TYM)’s operation in villages and communes is a real lever to help women develop their economy and escape poverty sustainably.
Previously, the family life of Ms. Vu Thi Duong and her husband, a member of center 13 (My Thinh village, Hung Loc commune, Hau Loc district, Thanh Hoa province) faced many difficulties and deprivations when both of them moved from the South. Besides farming, she and her husband had no idea what else to do. After learning about loans from TYM, Ms. Duong saw the direction for her family. She learned about husbandry, especially pig farming. After that, she decided to build a barn and buy breeding stock to implement the pig raising model. Currently, she raises both sows and lean pigs. Each time the pigs are sold, her family has an additional stable income. In addition, she also raises chickens.
Ms. Le Thi Dung, VWU’s member in Kien Long village, Hung Loc commune, Hau Loc district confided: “In 2019, when her family was still facing many difficulties, she was introduced by the village’s Vietnam Women’s Union about TYM. She wished to take our loans and deposit savings at TYM. With an initial loan of VND 30 million to support production development, the couple decided to buy a peanut oil press. From a small machine, she and her husband both buy peanuts, re-sell, and press peanut oil to sell. With her diligence to learn, her peanut oil products as well as her family’s peanut sale, the family’s economy gradually improved. Currently, her family has many peanut oil presses, creating conditions for some women to work at home, helping them have more income to improve their lives. Ms. Dung confided: “From the first days when I joined TYM, I felt really in love with TYM, I was motivated to try to develop more and more production. I really thank TYM for changing my family’s life.” Currently, although she no longer has to borrow money for economic development, she is still an active saving member of center 16 in Kien Long village. She encourages women to join TYM.
“In order to improve credit quality, in the process of using loans, technical staff of TYM and Vietnam Women’s Unions in communes and districts also regularly check, monitor, draw experience, and promptly remove difficulties and obstacles. In centers’ activities, women are propagated the guidelines of the Party, policies and laws of the State, of Vietnam Women’s Union at all levels; sharing experiences in production and husbandry to use loans efficiently”, said Ms. Mai Thi Len – Chairwoman of Vietnam Women’s Union of Tuy Loc Commune.
In addition to credit and savings activities, TYM is always interested in community activities. Every year, in Hau Loc district, TYM has many meaningful community activities such as: Giving gifts to the families of policy members on Invalids and Martyrs’ Day on July 27; creating playgrounds for women on the occasion of Vietnamese Women’s Day 20/10, International Women’s Day 8/3; giving scholarships “Giving wings to dreams” to children of TYM members, etc.
From specific and practical activities, TYM is really a lever to help many members get out of poverty and get rich, making an important contribution to the local poverty reduction.
-Tran Thi Hien, Technical officer, TYM Thanh Hoa Branch-