This project follows on from work completed in 2012-2113. [Giving a Voice to the Women – Phase 1]. It aims to work towards changing perceptions of the position of women in the community and also to educate the women about gender equality and their rights.[Why is Gender an issue in Vietnam]
The women in these communities have to work very hard and more so since they were forcibly moved from their original homes due to the construction of the Ta Trach reservoir. Generally the women are culturally responsible for housework, provision of food, health of the family and caring for children. They work 12 to 15 hours a day compared to the men who work 8 to 12 hours a day.
Prior to being moved the community was pretty much self-sufficient in provision of food, they could grow their own crops and maintain livestock. However in their new situation they have poor access to water, have land that is not fertile and is insufficient for their needs. Many of the women have to work outside the community to earn money to buy food. They and many of the men find seasonal employment on outside farms and forestry plantations. In addition to this many families are forced to send their children (mostly young girls) to work in the city (i.e.factories in Ho Chi Minh City) who then send money back to help support the family. This results in the break-up families as well as risk to the young girls exposed to potential exploitation in a large city. The women are also at a disadvantage because they receive less education than the men (illiteracy for the women is at 60 per cent compared to 30 per cent for women).
Workshops were held with the women followed by joint workshops with women and men. The workshops covered laws on gender equality and the positive desires and benefits of sharing ideas and feelings between women and men.
‘If men can join in these courses like that, they will know more about women’s rights’, Mr Le Hoi, (Ben V Hamlet)
‘The men should help women to do housework as much as possible, not be violet, respect their wife and share their experiences about training to others as well’, Mr Ho Van Duc (Phu Loc Hamlet)
Donor: Asia Pacific Forum on Women Law and Development (APWLD)
Project Date: 2014
Location: Phu Loc District, Thua Thien Hue