Women empowerment
Huyen (middle)
June 15, 2016
WU, Ben Tre
“I found it scary, having to defend my election program in front of a room full of delegates. I had practiced at home with a tape, voiced my speech and listened to it over and over again, so I would be prepared for all the questions. But they hardly asked any questions, they said that I had a very good program. Now I’m elected I’m going to work for the women in my province. I want to increase the involvement of women in politics, expand microcredit for women and I will seek funds for the poorest people. ” – Huyen (22), elected in the districts government
Climate Change /Salinity
June 16, 2016
Ben Tre, Mekong delta
“ I started four years ago, now we have over 9,000 m2 of trees. This is the first year that I ‘m really afraid that our crop will fail. It is much too dry and the soil has become quite salty. Here we are quite far from the sea, but the seawater flows through the rivers into our dry land. Already many trees died and the trees that survive still bear no fruit. Everywhere I see dry leaves. I will lose more trees if the rain doesn’t come soon. Maybe than I can still harvest”. – Mrs. Thac, owner fruit garden
Microfinance
June 16, 2016
Binh Hue, Dai Hoa Loc, Ben Tre
“Today we are voting on a new participant for our credit group. Do we know her well, she is honest and trustworthy, does she work hard? Then she can join the group and get a loan for a cow or a small shop. The rules for our credit group we have drawn together and we conform each other to it. We are very successful! Of the refunded money we can also save some, to build reserves for difficult times. We meet every month and we always end our meetings with fun activities, today we will sing together.” – Mrs. Yen, chairwoman microfinance group
Microfinance / Draught
June 16, 2016
Binh Hue, Dai Hoa Loc, Ben Tre
“When I got my first loan I bought a cow. Today I ask a new loan for a water container. I take care of my mother and my two children. We have almost no fresh water anymore. We only have salt water to wash our clothes and myself. My cow also needs water, up to 20 litres per day. With a water container I can collect 3000 litres of rainwater. The loan is 5 million Dong but I have to contribute 2 million myself. I saved nearly enough for the container.” Mrs. Tuyen (41), member of microfinance group
Microfinance (production Group)
June 16, 2016
Dai Hoa Loc, Ben Tre
“In my house I boil and sieve rough salt crystals to table salt. It’s very hard labour, above the boiling basins all day long. But now I have help from five poor women from the village. They distribute the fine salt on the market. And they lift the sacks rice bran for me, which I use as fuel for the fire. This heavy lugging I cannot do anymore, I have done this since I was 18. From the credit group I could get a bigger loan so I can pay the women every day. It also helps them to take care for their own families. A kilo of salt provides only 11 cents, but I even manage to save some of it! ” Mrs. Xuan (55), owner MF production group
Salinity
June 16, 2016
Dai Hoa Loc, Ben Tre
“This year our water is much saltier than normally. You can’t drink it with this high salinity. But we also need fresh water for a variety of medical procedures and to clean the building. The floors and the medical stuff can’t be cleaned with salt water. The people in the community are more likely to get sick from the salt water. There is now 30 % more diarrhea and high blood pressure also occurs a lot. This medical centre needs 8000 litres of water every month. Now we have requested an additional rainwater container to the government, but they keep us waiting and the rainy season has already begun.” Doctor Dan, head doctor medical centre
Salinity (2)
June 16, 2016
Dai Hoa Loc, Ben Tre
“In this community there are three schools with a total of 180 children. The water system from the community now only gives us very salty water. It contains up to 30% salt, it’s undrinkable. The children have to bring a bottle of water from their home. We asked the parents and teachers for a loan for the purchase of a rainwater container. But in this community lots of people are very poor, no one could afford a loan, not even the teachers. Because we are in desperate need of drinking water, we‘ve received a grant that enables us to purchase the water container.”Mrs. Nhan, head of the Kindergarten
Social inclusion
June 16, 2016
Phu Vang, Binh Dai, Ben Tre
“My house is called Friendship House, it was built in 2014 with money from the villagers, the local government and MCNV. It was a special project to help the elderly. Before my daughter Van and I lived in a small hut with a leaking roof. Because we are both very ill, we can’t work anymore and we have no money. Now I’ve got this new stone house from the villagers and the government gave us the right to use this land for the rest of our lives. My whole life I wanted to live in a proper house and now, in my old age, my dream has come true”. Mrs. Bieu (81), resident of the Friendship House
Adaptive agriculture/livelihood
June 18, 2016
Ca Hong, Khánh Hòa
“The government said that in this climate and in this soil no pomelos could grow, but I started growing them anyway. The pomelo is actually doing well here, mainly because we work very hard. This year it is so dry the fruits are too small and light. That’s why today we are digging a new water source. We have to dig thirty meters deep by hand! Fortunately our neighbours help. Sometimes things are difficult but I never quit. Now that we are successful the government wants to take over our idea, that makes me proud.” Nong Thi Bach, owner fruit plantation
Livelihood/ capacity building
June 18, 2016
Ba Dui, Ca Hong, Khánh Hòa
“My life changed completely when I was participating in a MCNV training about crop protection. I learned how to use fertilizer and seeds. The villagers then gave me a loan to start a shop in agricultural products. They had faith in me, that I could manage it. And yes, business is pretty good. I was then elected as village head. My shop is called Khánh Hà, that’s the name of our province Khanh Hoa combined with Holland. An idea of my fellow villagers.” Mrs. Tham (33), head of the village and shopkeeper
Capacity building / agriculture
June 20, 2016
Nong Vilay, Laos
“Nong is the poorest community of the Savannaketh province. Here we have to deal with a lot of unexploded bombs and shells in the ground, because of its proximity to the Ho Chi Minh trail. We restarted agricultural activities from 2000, but still very slowly because the war remains are not yet cleaned up everywhere. The Nong people need to be properly nourished first and after that we can work on the development of the area, step by step. MCNV is very strong in capacity building. First they train the staff who can thus inform others. That’s why we are very pleased MCNV is one of our partners.” Mr. Bunnhom, district governor
Nutrition sensitive agriculture
June 20, 2016
Along Village, Nong, Laos
“In our village we gather every week to talk about important matters. The men sit separately from the women, that’s our tradition. Today we discuss what we need the most in our village. Our children are malnourished, they need specific nutrition as we’ve already learned. But we can still use some advice for our vegetable gardens, not everything goes well the first time. We would like a workshop on growing the black bean plant, a request of our women. A workshop like that will eventually improve the health of all the villagers.” Head of the Along Village
Nutrition sensitive agriculture (2)
June 20, 2016
Along Village, Nong
“Three years ago I’ve participated in a gardening workshop with MCNV. I’ve learned a lot from it. They gave us seeds to start our own vegetable garden at home. We also learned how to propagate plants; we stab the seedlings in a small pile of cow manure, so they grow rapidly. We also have a lot of fun together. When we first harvested the lettuce we cooked a soup, because no one in our village knew you can eat lettuce uncooked! I would like to attend a cooking class, to learn about the best way to prepare the vegetables for my children. ” Mrs. Son (45), mother of 7 children, participant Nutrition Programme
Nutrition / Mother & Child
June 20, 2016
Xuan Yai Village, Nong
“Most women in our village have five or more children. Each month a nurse from the health centre in the city comes to our village. She checks the health of the babies. And every three months all children under five are examined, to see if their weight and length matches their age. Mothers who have just given birth get extra vitamins to strengthen. And the women also learn how to cook properly for the children. To us our health is the most important: if you are healthy, the rest will follow.” Head of the Xuan Yai village
Disability_DPO
June 21, 2016
Vinh Thu, Vinh Linh
“Our self-help group for disabled people began in 2000 with 1,500 euro. Today we have 18,000 euro in our fund, we already provided 97 disabled people with a loan to start a small business. The money comes from Dutch donors and grants, but in five years we hope to continue independently. We also organize fundraising activities, such as concerts in the village. That is always very successful, not only for the self-confidence of our members, but also in terms of revenue. We do this work as volunteers, besides our jobs. Guiding disabled people takes a lot of time and energy and not all of us are equally fit. We now consider to recruit someone who will be paid to assist us.” Le Huu Bang, DPO-chairman and restaurant owner
Disability / Social inclusion
June 21, 2016
Vin Thu, Vinh Linh
“After an industrial accident I had problems with my legs, but I exercised for two years until I could walk again. Then we started a small farm with a pig, five cows and some chickens. Nowadays there is so much demand for chickens for weddings, I now build an extra henhouse for 500 chickens. That is possible with a loan from the DPO and money from my parents. We also started a fish pond and we grow peppers in the garden. We are not likely to throw in the towel, if something goes wrong. I used to be independent, but I had nothing. Now I’m dependent on aid, but I have a wife, a son, a second child on its way and a successful business. I am very proud of what we have achieved! ” Than Gong
Hao (39), farmer and DPO-member
Mental Health
June 21, 2016
Vin Thu, Vinh Linh
“My Son Nam is suffering from schizophrenia for twenty years. He receives medication, but we have a lot of problems with his behaviour. Nam likes smoking and drinking, he never wants to work in the fields. Sometimes he is aggressive, I’ve hidden the kitchen knives. My husband and I sometimes are afraid of him. Two years ago I came to this family group and I have a lot of support. I can share what I have to go through with my son and from the other members I learn how to react to him when he is aggressive. The atmosphere in the group is quiet and cheerful, that helps me tremendously.” Mrs. Nquyen Thi Duy (74) member of Mental Health family group
Mental Health (2)
June 21, 2016
Vin Thu, Vinh Linh
“In my district there are three self-help groups for people with a mental illness. When I first started working with them, I found it very difficult to approach these people. How do you make real contact with someone with a mental illness, how do you connect? In 2013 I attended a course in communication with mentally ill and that has helped me tremendously. We learned how to ask the right questions, how to persevere and how to feel safe in our work. I find that it works not only for myself, but also for the group members. They now succeed in making real contact with each other. Every person needs that.” Tran Thi Ly (43), village health worker
Occupational Therapy
June 21, 2016
Vin Thu, Vinh Linh
“When I was twenty years I got spinal injury and joint problems from the heavy work in construction. Now I have a distillery and a small shop in my house. It is hard labour for me, I can hardly move through the house. If customers come to buy something I call from the backroom: here it’s self- service! I can’t carry the wood for the fire myself but the men from the village help me. In the evening I am usually very tired and I have a lot of pain. The painkillers give me stomach problems. I hope I can continue to live and work here for a long time. I want to do as much as I can by myself,
without having to ask for help from others.” Mrs. Le Thi Ninh (61) DPO-member and shopkeeper
Disability
June 24, 2016
Na Sang, Muong Cha, Dien Bien
“I can’t walk, I was born this way. I live in a shed next to the house of my sister. Without her help I can do nothing at all. The water has to be boiled before I can drink it, but someone else must be doing that for me. Last year researchers from MCNV came to visit me to see what kind of help I need for eating, washing, getting dressed. Now they will train students, I heard. For myself I just want a better house and a rainwater container. ” Lo Thi Phuong (59 years) participated in MCNV survey
Disability
June 24, 2016
Na Sang, Muong Cha, Dien Bien
“I live with my older brother and my parents in this house on stilts. At the age of seven I became ill and now I’ve got problems with my legs and joints. Not many people are visiting me. My brother says that’s the reason why I cannot speak well. The village health worker taught me how I can go downstairs on my own. I use my arms like a lever. On good days I can work, I help with repairing the fishing nets. When the researchers from MCNV asked me what I need, I said that going to school is my greatest wish. But I do need help with that.” Luong Van Nang (28), participant MCNV-survey
SRHR
June 24, 2016
Muong Cha, Dien Bien
“Out of 700 students 630 belong to ethnic minorities. We regret that we have a low rate of graduates. That’s because the girls have to leave school early. When they marry or become pregnant they must quit school immediately, as is their tradition, even if they are very close to graduating. Parents encourage their daughters to show their fertility by getting pregnant at a very young age because it supposedly increases their value on the marriage market. We teach sex education in the language of the students. MCNV helps us to create a new teaching method. No dry story, but a real discussion with the young people and lots of music and activities around it. We try to turn the tide step by step and give the girls a chance to finish their education.” Tran Van Cuong, deputy director high school
SRHR (2)
June 24, 2016
Na Sang, Muong Cha, Dien Bien
“The Muong who live in this region are very poor, they have no money for medical treatment. Some time ago I helped a 26-year old woman, who had become severely malnourished during pregnancy. Her family had no money to buy the necessary extra food. I then bought noodles for her myself, so she could recuperate. As a midwife I see the consequences of an unbalanced diet and malnutrition every day, both with mother and child. Another problem is that pregnant women, often girls, don’t come here in time to have a medical check-up. The transport to and from the hospital is often too expensive for the Muong, some live 60 kilometres away. We want to help them with advice on good nutrition so that their child will get a better start in life.” Lo Thi Ma, midwife
SRHR / gender
June 24, 2016
Muong Cha, Dien Bien
“When we got married I was 13 years old, my husband was 18. I studied in the 12 th grade when I got pregnant and I had to leave school immediately. It is our tradition that married women live with their in-laws. My parents live 200 kilometres away. I don’t like that at all, I was very lonely in the beginning. Because we are married so young it’s quite difficult to understand each other well. My husband and I spend very little time together, we are always surrounded by family members. I miss school a lot, I enjoyed geography and history and I had many girlfriends. Now I have no idea what the future holds, I’d like to live in a small house of our own”. Sung Thi Sung (19), mother of Chuong (6)
SRHR /gender (2)
June 24, 2016
Muong Cha, Dien Bien
“I ‘m working on embroidery for our traditional costume. I like doing this, it’s an accurate task. I live with my husband Tang, together with twenty of his family members. Tang is still in school, but I had to leave school when I became pregnant. After giving birth I did not know what to do with the baby, how to take care of him. My mother in law has helped me then. Occasionally Tang and I do something fun together, we love cooking and we like to bath the baby. We also get advice from an elderly man from the village. He teaches us how to get along better. My older sister also was very young when she had a baby, to us it’s normal.” Ho Thi The (16), mother of Quan (2 months)
HIV / AIDS
June 25, 2016
Thanh An, Dien Bien
“When I became ill in 2010, I found out I was HIV infected. My husband uses drugs, my daughter is also infected. At the time I could only cry, I did not want to eat anymore. But when I was introduced to the Sunflower group all of that changed. Everything I learned from the other women with HIV was new to me. I learned a lot from them. We meet twice a month and that always makes me feel better. With a small loan I bought a pig and she is now pregnant. The piglets I can later sell on the market. With the money I can repay my loan and save for the future of my daughter.” Lo Thi Van (29), member Sunflower group
HIV / AIDS (2)
June 25, 2016
Thanh Hung, Dien Bien
“My husband, my son and I live from day to day, one day better than another. We are all HIV infected so we don’t have much energy. We can’t work for a boss anymore. I take care of the animals and the vegetable garden, I can manage that. Sometimes we are lonely, not many people from the village come to our house for a chat. Fortunately I’m able to visit the meetings of the Sunflower group. I joined a workshop in how to take care of life stock and now two other women and I raise a pig together. Sometimes I forget to feed her, my medication effects my memory, but then the others remind me. This year our sow was the first with six piglets, we are very proud of that!” Lo Thi Suoi (26), member Sunflower group
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