Gia Lai Women and Girls: Raising Awareness of Gender Equality, Rising to Mastery

Cultivate courage from school

At the age of 3, Nguyen Thi Minh Thu (Binh Tay village, Po To commune, Gia Lai province) was diagnosed with liver disease. Her difficult family situation, her parents divorced, made her shy and reluctant to participate in group activities. However, with the encouragement of her teachers, since becoming a member of the "Leader of Change" Club at Phan Dinh Phung Secondary School, Thu has become confident and actively participated in activities.

By joining the Club, I am equipped with and improve my knowledge and skills on gender equality, ownership and children's issues... Thanks to that, I am not afraid to express my views on these issues.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Dung, teacher - Head of the Team of Phan Dinh Phung Secondary School, said that the school's "Leader of Change" Club was established in 2023 with 30 members. Through activities every weekend, students are trained and instructed in basic knowledge about preventing and combating child marriage, incestuous marriage, and preventing and combating school violence...

In addition, the students also participated in many useful activities organized by the local Women's Union such as: painting contest to propagate the prevention of school violence, contest to find creative and effective solutions in communication to eliminate gender prejudice, domestic violence, and build a civilized lifestyle...

Through that, they build their own courage and confidence; at the same time, they develop their own abilities, boldly speak up their thoughts on gender equality, and become typical "leaders" in propaganda work in the locality.

Desire to rise

Ms. Kpa H'Chuên (Gia Rai ethnic group) is a member of the "Community Communication Team" in Mo Nang 2 village (Ia Pa commune, Gia Lai province). Ms. Kpa said that since participating in the activities of the Project "Implementing gender equality and solving urgent issues for women and children" (Project 8), receiving training and raising awareness about gender, she has understood more about gender equality in the family.

"Married life is only truly happy and equal when there is sharing, understanding, the right to contribute opinions, and together deciding big and small things in the family. I am very happy that every new day I wake up early with my husband to prepare breakfast for the children.

I am very happy when my husband shares the housework so I can participate in social activities," said Ms. Kpa H'Chuên.

Gia Lai women and girls: Raising awareness of gender equality, rising to mastery - Photo 1.

Ms. Kpa H'Chuên (4th from right) with members of the "Community Communication Team" of Mo Nang 2 village (Ia Pa commune, Gia Lai) at a contest within the framework of Project 8.

Mr. Kpa Tran, Party Cell Secretary and Head of Mo Nang 2 Village, said: The Gia Rai people follow a matriarchal system. Due to lack of knowledge, backward customs still exist in many villages. Thanks to the members of the "Community Communication Team" who regularly propagate and mobilize, the villagers have gradually changed their thinking and way of doing things.

Men in the village know how to share housework, rarely gather to drink alcohol, and women are increasingly actively participating in community activities in the village and commune.

The models of "Trusted Address in the Community", "Leader of Change", "Community Communication Team"... from Project 8 under the National Target Program on Socio -Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas have made an important contribution to eliminating gender prejudice and stereotypes; ensuring the voice and participation of women and children in socio-economic development activities...

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/phu-nu-va-tre-em-gai-gia-lai-nang-cao-nhan-thuc-binh-dang-gioi-vuon-len-lam-chu-20250708143232994.htm