In its efforts to create employment opportunities for disadvantaged female members, Cam Le District’s Hoa An Ward Chapter of the Da Nang Women's Union established a facility to make cinnamon insoles in early April, 2022 in a bid to help 11 members of the Women's Organistion No. 13 earn a steady income and improve their living conditions. Members of this organisation are single mothers, women with disabilities, poor women, and women with incapacitated husbands living on marginal income and uncertainty.

"Previously, my family had faced serious financial difficulties and I could not cover my family’s living costs as well as could not afford to pay school fees for my children. Fortunately, I was given an opportunity to join other local disadvantaged women for making cinnamon insoles, thereby helping me earn a monthly stable stable income and gradually improve living conditions of my family", said Ms. Luong Thi Lien Hoa, the Head of the Women's Organistion No. 13.

According to Ms. Hoa, making cinnamon insoles is a gentle job that are suitable for everyone, including women with disabilities. Cinnamon insoles are made with powdered cinnamon, ginger root, licorice and some natural herbs that meet health and safety requirements. Cinnamon soles pamper your feet and body with the positive properties of cinnamon. The pleasant scent makes your feet smell nice, and the cinnamon also absorbs sweat.

A pair of cinnamon insoles costs VND 10,000. Making cinnamon insoles helps disadvantaged women earn monthly income of VND 3 million – VND 4 million based on how much they make.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, the Chairwoman of Cam Le District’s Hoa An Ward Chapter of the Da Nang Women's Union highlighted the importance of the establishment of the facility to make cinnamon insoles in assisting women in difficult circumstances to sustainably escape from poverty, as well as spreading humanity, and nurturing the spirit of mutual aid, mutual support and mutual affection in efforts to help disadvantaged women rise up and overcome challenges they face with.

“Cinnamon insoles are made purely by hand and they are eco-friendly products and sold at an affordable price. Hence, they are very attractive to small traders who are ready to buy directly from producers and cinnamon insole makers don't have to spend time and resources going out and finding customers. Women with disabilities can receive raw materials from the facility to make cinnamon insoles at home. We realize that the model of making cinnamon insoles will bring long-term benefits to disadvantaged women. Therefore, this model will be expanded into other localities across the district in the near future. At the same time, special attention will be paid to supporting women access bank loans to expand their production," remarked Ms. Hoa.

With its high economic benefits and environmental friendliness, this model helps disadvantaged women increase their income in addition to creating job opportunities for them, improving their living conditions, and developing great startup ideas to make money in the future.

Reporting by HUYNH TUONG VY – Translating by H.L