Part 3 - The Journey of Spreading Love

In the 10 years of implementing Directive No. 40-CT/TW in Lam Dong Province, with the active involvement of all levels, sectors and mass organizations, social policy credit has proven effective and achieved many important goals. These results have not only brought sustainable value to poverty reduction efforts but also contributed to improving the living standards of local people and promoting the socio-economic development of the province.

VBSP’s Officials visit the successful farming household of Co Lieng K Srang in Lieng Sronh Commune, Dam Rong District

Mobilizing All Resources to Support the Poor

In early 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic began spreading across many regions in the country, VBSP Lam Dong Branch together with the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee and other mass organizations organized the first "Savings Day for the Poor". This event received widespread support from the public, party members, workers, civil servants and employees in various organizations, agencies, businesses and communities.

Since then, the "Savings Day for the Poor" program has been held every year during the Lunar New Year in Lam Dong province for the past four years, gradually expanding from a one-day event to a week and then a month of saving activities. It has evolved into a "festival" that reaches every commune, village, neighborhood, and school across the province.

With the motto "One person contributes a little, many people create a resource", the savings program has demonstrated the power of the community, as well as the efforts of VBSP and mass organizations in mobilizing financial resources to better meet the borrowing needs of the poor and other disadvantaged groups.

In addition to the provincial and district-level budgets, the Farmers' Union, Women's Union, Veterans' Association and Youth Union have partnered with VBSP to promote and encourage civil servants, workers, members, and the general public to participate actively in the "Savings Day for the Poor" program.

Mr. Pham Trieu, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Lam Dong province, emphasized that the savings activity at VBSP has shown deep humanitarian values, creating additional financial resources to better meet the borrowing needs of the poor and other policy beneficiaries, helping them overcome difficulties and escape poverty sustainably. This initiative has brought about a change in awareness and action at all levels, sectors, and society as a whole in creating capital for social policy credit. Enterprises, agencies, units, civil servants, workers, and people in the province have embraced the tradition of mutual support and participated in the savings program. This truly reflects the small actions that lead to significant impacts.

With the slogan "Helping the poor escape poverty sustainably" and focusing on "giving a fishing rod rather than a fish", the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Lam Dong province, along with its member organizations, has employed many effective and innovative approaches. These efforts have not only helped many households escape poverty but also reduced the risk of falling back into poverty. Since 2016, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Lam Dong has allocated 9.4 billion VND from the "Fund for the Poor" to VBSP, supplementing funds for poor and near-poor households in the region. The funds mobilized from organizations, individuals, and savings contributions through the Savings and Credit Groups reached VND 931 billion, an increase of VND 815 billion (697.34%) compared to 2014, accounting for 15.56% of the total capital.

From Difficulties to Prosper

Dam Rong thrives thanks to policy credit

Since 2021, Dam Rong officially graduated from being a "30a poor district." This means that investment funds and other support policies under Government Resolution 30a are no longer implemented in the district. Graduating from the poverty designation is a significant achievement for a newly established district, the most recent of the 12 districts and cities of the province. However, it also brought about several concerns because, at that time, the district's multidimensional poverty rate remained high. These challenges required the entire political system and the people of Đam Rông to be determined to rise above difficulties, to not rely on external assistance, and to overcome challenges to escape poverty and avoid the risk of falling further behind.

Lieng Sronh is known as an especially difficult area in Dam Rong district. In the past, local people received preferential policies and had access to loan funds, but they had not used the funds effectively. Today, thanks to the dedication and support of the local authorities, political organizations and social associations, poor households, near-poor households and policy beneficiaries in the area are increasingly using social policy loans from VBSP more effectively.

In Da Long commune, local party authorities and the government recognized that social policy credit is an important resource to help people in the area, who face many difficulties, access investment funds for production and improve their livelihoods. As a result, the local government issued a resolution to strengthen the party's leadership in social policy credit and incorporated it into monthly and annual work plans to improve the effectiveness of social policy credit. During difficult times, social policy credit has become a crucial resource to help local people invest in production, improve their lives, and escape poverty.

Under Decree No. 28/CP on the development of the economy in ethnic minority areas, VBSP has worked based on the decisions of the Provincial People's Committee to assist people in accessing loans and facilitating occupational changes and house construction. In recent times, 200 households in Dam Rong district have been supported in building homes, and over 140 households have received loans to switch occupations or change crops to plant coffee or durian. The mobilized policy credit funds from multiple sources have created opportunities for many people in difficult circumstances to access financial resources.

Mr. Lieng Hot Ha Hai - Vice Chairman of Dam Rong District People's Committee shared that one of the district's most notable successes is the significant reduction in the poverty rate compared to the time when the district was first established. Currently, the multidimensional poverty rate in the district stands at 11.63%. This achievement is due to the attention of various levels of government, the support and investment from multiple sources, both central and local, including social policy credit funds.

Le Hoa – Anh Nguyet – Van Bau