Policy credit empowers women to rise and stabilize their livelihoods

Thanks to preferential policy credit, thousands of women in Tay Ninh Province have gained access to loan capital to invest in production and business activities, shift occupations, and develop sustainable livelihoods aligned with their household conditions and individual capacities. Starting from initial loan disbursements, numerous women-led economic models have been established, maintained, and gradually replicated, contributing to stable income generation and long-term socio-economic development at the local level.

Ms. Hoang Uyen, Chairwoman of the Women’s Union of Long Cang Commune (far left), visits the garment cooperative model taking loan from VBSP, owned by Ms. Le Thi Giang

These include lush VietGAP-standard vegetable gardens; goat-raising and breeding cow models; garment cooperative groups and small-scale processing facilities; as well as household-based retail and service businesses. Although modest in scale, each model has initially generated stable income, created jobs for many female workers, contributed to improvement of household living standards and sustainable poverty reduction. Many disadvantaged women members have confidently embarked on start-ups, achieved effective business performance, and become exemplary models in the movement of women excelling in economic development.

Other credit programs, such as loans for poor households, near-poor households, post-poor households; rural safe water and environmental sanitation; social housing; and loans for disadvantaged students have been implemented in a synchronized and effective manner.

According to Ms. Hoang Uyen, Chairwoman of the Women’s Union of Long Cang Commune, the commune currently has 13 Savings and Credit Groups managed by women, with total outstanding loans reaching approximately USD 1.12 million (equivalent to VND 28.6 billion). The funding is primarily allocated to rural safe water and environmental sanitation, job creation, lending to poor and near-poor households, and loans for disadvantaged students. Most members utilize loan capital for proper purposes, ensure effective use of funds, and strictly comply with borrowing and repayment obligations.

A typical example is the garment cooperative of Ms. Le Thi Giang, which was introduced by the Women’s Union of Long Cang Commune to access a loan of approximately USD 2,750 (equivalent to VND 70 million) from VBSP Tay Ninh Provincial Branch to develop her home-based garment production group. The facility is now operating stably, providing regular employment for more than 10 local female workers. Many women who are unable to work far from home or follow fixed administrative working hours undertake home-based subcontracted sewing, which suits their health conditions and family circumstances while generating additional income and enabling them to proactively care for their children and families.

Ms. Doan Thi Cam Giang (born in 1986, residing in Ben Luc Commune) shared that after nearly 20 years working as a garment worker, her declining health forced her to seek a new direction. Over the past year, she has shifted to taking home-based sewing orders from Ms. Giang’s workshop. Although the income is not as high as working for a company, the flexible hours and steady workload allow her to have more time to care for her family.

Such stories are far from uncommon, demonstrating that policy credit is not merely about loan disbursement, but about trust extended, timely opportunity, and motivation for women to confidently rise and gradually transform their lives.

In the upcoming term, the Women’s Union of Tay Ninh Province will continue prioritizing support for women in achieving sustainable poverty reduction, entrepreneurship, and collective economic development, while closely coordinating with VBSP Tay Ninh Provincial Branch to expand access to preferential credit, in conjunction with vocational training, digital transformation, and green economic development.

Ms. Phan Thi Thuy Van, Chairwoman of the Women’s Union of Tay Ninh Province, affirmed that Women’s Union at all levels will continue to inspire women’s spirit of self-reliance and resilience; promote digital transformation and support women’s participation in the digital economy; and enhance the quality of policy advisory, supervision, and social criticism activities, thereby contributing to social security and the advancement of gender equality.