Meet Ms. Pham Thi Hai and Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu, two single mothers who may be small in stature but are brimming with the energy to rise up in life. With unwavering determination, they are crafting a brighter future for themselves and their children.
Ms. Hai is a hardworking woman who sells vegetables at the local market to support her young son. Life as a single mother has not been easy. Living in a small 30-square-meter rented room, she and her son face challenges when life and income are unstable.
In a similar situation, Ms. Thu has also faced her own trials. She herself has a mobility disability and difficulty walking. After losing her husband to a traffic accident she became the sole caregiver for her two young daughters.
Yet, through every hardship both women have maintained their spirits. They focus on the future, dreaming of a better life for their kids. Thanks to the COV’s Empowering Foundations for Women and Their Children program, Ms. Hai received a grant of 6 million VND ($240) to open a small vegetable stall in the local market. Ms. Thu received capital support to develop her livelihood by making cakes and jelly for the amount of 8 million VND ($320).
Despite the challenges and hard work, the two friends constantly strive for improvement. They actively participate in women’s programs, seizing every opportunity to learn and grow.
When COV collaborated with Rotary Danang to coordinate job introduction activities for young people and single mothers, Ms. Hai and Ms. Thu had the opportunity to connect and become friends. Together, they attend vocational classes where they learn new skills to improve their livelihoods. Whether it’s supporting each other in the course of discussing the latest challenges of raising school-aged children, they are constantly pushing each other to grow. Their shared determination is a powerful force propelling them forward on their paths to self-improvement.
“We share and encourage each other to keep going, even when things get tough,” Ms. Hai said.
The stories of Hai and Thu are not only about the resilience of single mothers but also about connection and spreading kindness. With the support of the community, they have found joy and motivation to strive forward.