On April 17, 2024, AEA in Vietnam had the honor of receiving a delegation of representatives of French Senators and the French Development Agency (AFD) in Vietnam for a visit and working session with local authorities, partner organizations, and beneficiaries within the framework of the project “Gender Equality through Vocational Education and Entrepreneurship” in Da Bac district, Hoa Binh province.

 

In Hoa Binh city, Mr. Bui Van Khanh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hoa Binh province and representative leaders of a number of departments of Hoa Binh province welcomed and worked with the delegation. The French delegation was led by Ms. Anne Le Hénanff, the representative of the Morbihan Provincial Parliament (France) and President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association.

In Da Bac district, the delegation exchanged views with Ms. Ban Kim Quy (Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Da Bac district) and Ms. Tran Kieu Oanh (Chairwoman of the Women’s Union of Da Bac district) on the role and cooperation of local authorities and departments in supporting the economic development of ethnic minority women and promoting gender equality.

 

 

In addition, the delegation visited and experienced activities at the Dao Tien Brocade Handicraft Cooperative in Sung Hamlet, Cao Son commune, Da Bac district, which is supported by AEA. The delegation had discussions and learned about the establishment and operation of the cooperative, the changes in knowledge, skills, and mindset, as well as the personal development of young women participating in the project supported by AEA. The delegation directly experienced activities such as fabric dyeing and creating patterns using natural dye made from indigo leaves, following the traditional method of the Dao Tien people in Sung Hamlet. The young woman, Ly Thi Hang (representative of the Dao Tien Handicraft Cooperative in Sung Hamlet), and other female members of the cooperative demonstrated their skillfulness in traditional hand weaving techniques, creating landscape paintings with beeswax, and producing patterns with natural dyeing methods. They also shared stories about the meaning and culture behind the unique patterns on Dao Tien clothing. The delegation was impressed by the dedication to preserving and transmitting traditional cultural values, as well as the passion and skill of the members of the Dao Tien Brocade Handicraft Cooperative.

 

 

 

During the visit, the delegation had the opportunity to attend and observe a training workshop on gender analysis and gender mainstreaming skills for local officials representing the Youth Union, Women’s Union at the commune and village levels, and village leaders. This activity aimed to enhance understanding of gender equality, the benefits, and the importance of gender mainstreaming in socio-economic development activities for the local community. Through the training, participants acquired knowledge and skills to identify and address pressing gender inequality issues faced by women and children in the locality, gender mainstreaming into project activities, and fulfill the responsibilities and tasks of local officials in implementing gender-responsible communication activities, thereby effectively promoting gender equality. The delegation highly appreciated the effective coordination between the AEA in Vietnam, the technical partner – the Center for Gender, Family and Environment Research and Development (CGFED), and local partner, as well as the active and enthusiastic participation of the trainees in the training workshop.