Over recent years, the Youth Union chapters at all levels in Da Nang have, with their timely all-kind supports, always stands side- by- side young people, especially disadvantaged, to start up and raise their income.

A young Da Nang man (centre) receives a bank loan at highly preferential interest rate to start his own business. Photo: LAM PHUONG

Giving startup capital

Ms. Dang Thi Hong Anh, a resident Hoa Minh Ward, Lien Chieu District is a disabled woman born with an unhealthy body and slow physical growth. Not surrendering to fate, Anh strived to start her own small-scale business with the making of a paper flower models, as a way of making its end in life.

In September 2022, Hoa Minh Ward’s Youth Union gave VND 3 million worth of support to Anh so that she could afford the purchase of more raw materials in use for making paper flowers, hereby serving the gift market on the occasion of the Vietnamese Women’s Day (October 20).

Do Huu Duy Phuong in Hoa Hiep Nam Ward, Lien Chieu District is a young man living in difficult circumstances due to an injury to his legs, unable to do heavy work. Phuong’s father lost his ability to work; her mother is an unskilled worker, and her brother is enjoying the social protection regime. In a great effort to help her family, Phuong opened a barber shop.

In order to support Phuong, at the beginning of October, the Youth Union chapter of Hoa Hiep Nam Ward presented the startup capital of VND 2 million in aid to help the purchase of tools in use for her career.

Similarly, Mr. Chau Hong Son in Hoa Phuoc Commune, Hoa Vang District is a vulnerable young man who used to be jailed for law violations. After having reintegrated into the community, he boldly started a business with grocery products.

The Youth Union chapter of Hoa Phuoc Commune provided a capital of VND10 million  to help Son expand his business, increase his family's income and stabilise his life. Secretary of the Youth Union chapter of Hoa Minh Ward, Ho Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh, said that, under the motto “No one is left behind”, this agency always supports young people with disabilities and difficulties who have strong aspirations to embark upon doing business.

At this time, the agency will continue to maintain models and solutions to support disadvantaged youth. At the same time, career guidance and job creation for disadvantaged youth and youth to stabilize their lives is also given a special heed.

In addition to capital support, the Youth Union chapters at all levels have also encouraged Youth Union members to borrow policy loans from banks for income improvement.

Mr. Le Van Hai from Hoa Hiep Nam Ward starting a business in advertising printing is a bright example. At the beginning of September 2022, given a growing need for large capital to buy more high-tech cutters for cutting advertising, Hai presented his wish to the Lien Chieu District and was instructed to make a dossier for loan registrations.

Through support by the local authorities, Hai accessed a preferential loan of VND 100 million with an interest rate equal to the loan interest rate for near-poor households at 7,92% from the Lien Chieu District branch of the Da Nang Bank for Social Policies. Thanks to this loan, Hai purchased more necessary machinery and equipment to expand his business, and at the same time created jobs for more than 5 young people in the locality.

Training and knowledge enhancement

In October, the Youth Union chapter of Thanh Khe Dong Ward, Thanh Khe District held a training session to equip youth unionists with entrepreneurship knowledge. Here, Mr. Le Van A, the owner of the ‘Adanle - Morning Bread’ bread chain shared about his entrepreneurial journey and basic knowledge and professional skills.

The representative of Thanh Khe Dong Ward Youth Union chapter said that, starting a business is a growing trend chosen by many young people. Bearing it in mind, this agency has offered training on necessary startup knowledge and skills for youths to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship, thereby, creating conditions for them to grasp the opportunity to promote exchanges of experience, access new knowledge and realise startup ideas and projects rising to master life.

With the desire to arouse the entrepreneurial spirit of local youths, the Youth Union at all levels across Da Nang has performed well doing every thing to support them during their startups.

Through training sessions, young people have accessed basic knowledge and skills about entrepreneurship, search for ideas and develop business plans, sales skills through social networking channels, e-commerce platforms and knowledge about international economic integration.

At the same time, it is an opportunity to share and test viable start-up ideas, contributing to job creation and economic development. In order to spread the unique and feasible business models and ideas, the Da Nang Youth Union has regularly organised exhibitions and product introductions, propose feasible and highly applicable startup projects to be incubated and developed on a large scale.

Reporting by LAM PHUONG - Translating by A.THU