(HBO) – Upon arriving in Lac Village – located in Chieng Chau, in the Mai Chau district of Hoa Binh province – you will understand why the locals here have come to call Vi Thi Thuan, a Thai ethnic minority woman, "Co Tien”, or "Fairy” in English.
"Fairy” Vi Thi Thuan looks at the products made by a local
worker at the Thuan Hoa Social Protection Centre.
Her matronly name comes from her
dedication to caring for others and her ability to weave magic out of a
difficult situation.
Thuan decided to build a house for people
with disabilities in a bid that would not only allow them to make a living, but
also preserve the traditional art of brocade weaving. As such, the Thuan Hoa
Social Protection Centre was established on May 1, 2018.
Over the past decade, hundreds of women
with disabilities and those from difficult backgrounds have come to the centre,
which offers them stable employment and the opportunity to earn a living for
themselves.
The centre currently accommodates 35
ethnic minority women, including 11 people with disabilities, who are provided with
jobs and a stable income ranging from 2.5 to 4 million VND per month.
It was very challenging at the beginning
as this craft is difficult even for able-bodied people to master; for people
with disabilities, it can be a thousand times more difficult, Thuan recalled.
"I myself had no experience, only my courage
and enthusiasm, and so there were many times where I did not know what to do
first, and what to do later,” she said. "Fortunately, all the members here live
together in harmony, like the name of the centre "Thuan Hoa”. Thus, when
confronted with any challenges, we always encourage each other to overcome them
together.”
After many ups and downs, in 2016, the
centre was able to build a new workshop and separate rooms for 20 of the women living
here, as well as a showroom, two stilt houses for homestay services, and a
large yard for camping and the display of Thai ethnic minority items.
"Many difficulties remain ahead of us, but
we are still dedicated to crafting and selling traditional handicrafts that
reflect the cultural beauty of Thai people,” Thuan added.
In addition, she plans to develop a large
garden full of local flowers from the northwestern region in the future and
create a cultural space of Thai ethnic community in Mai Chau to serve tourism.
Thuan was awarded the title of brocade
weaving artisan by the Vietnam Craft Village Association three years in a row
from 2010 to 2013, and honoured by the President of the Vietnam Women’s Union
as an example of an excellent businesswoman from an ethnic minority group.
As part of Project 6 under the national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in 2024, Lạc Sơn District, Hoa Binh province focuses on diverse and practical activities to promote the project's goal: "Preserving and promoting the beautiful traditional cultural values of ethnic groups in conjunction with tourism development."
After 3 years of implementing Resolution No. 04-NQ/TU, dated October 11, 2021 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on preserving and promoting the cultural heritage values of Hoa Binh province's ethnic groups in the period of 2021 – 2025 with the orientation to 2030 (NQ04), it has mobilized the participation of the entire political system, the people from all walks of life and there have been positive changes. So far, out of the 10 targets of NQ04, 3 targets have been met and exceeded the plan set for 2025. Typically, 70% of the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of ethnic groups in the province is on the list of the national ICH items and they have been protected and restored, exceeding 20% of the proposed Resolution.
Great National Unity Day has been recently celebrated in Duong hamlet, Vay Nua commune, Da Bac district, in an atmosphere of warmth and community spirit. The event highlighted national identity and strengthened the bond of solidarity among residents.
On November 28, the People's Committee of Cao Phong district organized the Cultural and Sports Festival of Cao Phong district's ethnic groups in 2024.
