Over the past years, not only have Da Nang Women's Unions (WU) at all levels enthusiastically accompanied the local authorities in implementing social welfare programmes but they also came up with innovative ideas to create the own brand of Da Nang women who long to spread more humanitarian love to the community.

Women in Hoa Tien Commune participate in waste sorting at source. Photo: T.S

Colours of love

During a working trip to Da Nang in the middle of November 2021, Vice President of the Central Committee of the Viet Nam Women’s Union Bui Thi Hoa highly hailed that most of the social welfare programmes launched by the municipal Women’s Union chapters at all levels are quite unique, interesting features and full of humanity, thus making them different from others nationwide.

Notable amongst them are such programmes as ‘Da Nang women - love and share’, ‘Thousands of gifts of love", ‘Sharing love’ and ‘Colours of love’ , all of which have acted as ‘a bridge’ between the local government, social organisations and Women’s Union chapter so as to promptly help needy people overcome their difficulties in life.

In particular, many members of the Da Nang Women's Union chapters at all levels quickly implemented ‘Doing shopping for locals’ programme regardless of rain or shine during which they buy supplemental foodstuff, other essential items and medicines for the later delivery to the doorsteps of local families during days complying with heightened social distancing orders.

As calculated, more than 6,000 women participated in this highly practical programme with a total amount of VND106 billion worth of ordered items and food stuffs.

With the desire to mobilise more resources to support poor and disadvantaged women, the municipal Women's Unions at all levels have always closely and effectively coordinated with many localities and functional agencies.

The Da Nang branch of the Viet Nam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP), in the 2016- 2020 period, has disbursed more than VND1,982 billion worth of loans to 53,758 female customers.

Members of the Da Nang Women’s Union donate anti-droplet hats and meals to those in difficult circumstances. Photo: THANH TINH

Joining hands to help poor women in difficult circumstances

Ms. Huynh Thi Hieu, from Yen Ne 1 Village, Hoa Tien Commune, Hoa Vang District has received a loan of nearly VND40 million from VBSP to grow mushrooms. She happily said that she had received great support from relevant agencies in accessing preferential loans and mushroom growing skills. Over the past 3 years, her family's income has improved markedly.

From 2015 to 2020, out of more than 330,000 people who accessed job opportunities, women accounted for more than 51.5%. On average, more than 31,000 women find jobs each year.

These meaningful figures represent the joint effort to achieve the goal of ‘employment for every woman’, thus contributing to economic stability for women and ensuring social welfare.

For a group of women with special difficulties and disadvantages, the ‘handshake’ among competent agencies is like a ‘lifesaver’ at the right time.

With the proposal from the Da Nang Women's Union, the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has advised the municipal authorities to grant VND500,000/person/month for women suffering from serious diseases, VND300,000/person/month for single, poor women who have no working capacity, the exemption from health insurance premiums for poor women who have got out of poverty for five years, a 70% subsidy of health insurance premiums for those living under the city’s poverty thresholds, free medical examination and treatment expenses for those extremely difficult circumstances suffering from serious diseases.

Former Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Quang Nam - Da Nang and Da Nang (from 1987 to 1997) Nguyen Thi Van Lan expressed her pleasure that social welfare work carried out by the Da Nang Women's Unions at all levels over the years have always benefited women in difficult and disadvantaged situations through many breakthrough and effective ways under the spirit of ensuring that ‘nobody is left behind’.

Reporting by THANH VAN – Translating by A. THU