ActionAid International advances HCM City women’s livelihoods

Illustrative image (Source: actionaid.org)

Support activities from the non-governmental organisation ActionAid International (AAI) have helped more than 30,000 low-income women in Ho Chi Minh City improve their livelihoods over the last 14 years, revealed data released at a meeting on September 24.

The AAI’s first development assistance programme in HCM City was carried out in 2002 in Go Vap district, which houses a substantial number of businesses, production facilities and craft villages that employ local workers as well as migrants.

It has spent roughly 20 billion VND (889,200 USD) on supporting the impoverished, migrants and women in three wards of Go Vap. From 2002-2010, the programme provided assistance to people living with HIV and their families, less-privileged children and migrant women.

Since 2010, it has focused on helping impoverished women without farmland ownership and raising public awareness of human rights, women’s rights, the right to education and children’s rights while promoting women’s engagement in State management and social activities.

Two outstanding activities have been offering consultation services to local students and women suffering from domestic violence, encouraging students to continue their studies and substantially eliminating domestic violence. Basing on such encouraging outcomes in Go Vap, the two activities have been expanded to 24 women’s unions in other districts of HCM City.

Among the AAI’s activities in HCM City, the community fund initiative is also appreciated for offering non-mortgaged and concessional loans. Over 3,000 low-income women in Go Vap district have accessed such loans.

Vice Chairwoman of the Go Vap People’s Committee Le Thi Kim Hanh said the AAI’s practical aid over the past 14 years has contributed to local efforts to eradicate poverty and resolve socio-economic matters regarding the impoverished, migrants and children.

In its over 20 years of operating in Vietnam, the AAI has been present in over 20 provinces and cities nationwide and assisted some 100,000 families through community-based development programmes and projects in coordination with local organisations.-VNA