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Global Summit of Women 2008
ENGAGING YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS IN
ENTREPRENEURSHIP Presented by: Mrs Doan Thi Huu Nghi Ladies and Gentlemen! In 1988, when we set up Hiep Hung syndicate, I did not think that one day I would stand here, at 18th Global Summit of Women, to share my experiences with all of you - eminent conference delegates who come from many countries around the world. I deeply thank the Organizing Committee for this experience. In August, 1988, after taking part in the first Corporate management course in Vietnam, I became driven to open an exported embroidery products workshop. With the encouragement of all my family members and from my decisive will, my dream has become true 20 years later. Hiep Hung, from a syndicate, has developed and become a growth Group. With the guideline “Cooperate for development and prosperity”, experiences in market difficulties, challenges and hardships have proved that the way Hiep Hung Group went was the right one. This guideline is also the powerful motivation which has helped Hiep Hung Group step by step integrate Vietnam into an international developing economy. Hiep Hung's high quality products are available to domestic and foreign consumers. Hiep Hung Group’s development strategy concentrates on producing exported handicraft and embroidery products. Here, we not only use up the leisure labor in rural areas, but we also develop the traditional trade villages. Hiep Hung Group is in the vanguard of market research, we use 100% organic cotton fabric for producing BELLIZENO - our superior embroidered duvet covers, pillowcases, and bed covers. Our products are for consumers’ health, environmental cleanliness, and contribute to a global strategy on improving the environment and helping poor people. Talking about the successes of Hiep Hung, we can not avoid discussing the concerns of our enterprise in disadvantaged communities.
Ladies and Gentlemen, On the occasion of my trip to the poor village of Phuong Thuong, in the Ne Ho commune of the province of Ha Nam, I talked with the children roaming on the country lane and I learned that their mothers went to the cities to earn money and their fathers were busy in the field. Because of this, they had not gone to school for a long time as no one was around to look after them … I was moved by the deep sympathy of a mother, and an idea suddenly sprung up: Why can I not make an occasion for the people having a job here so they are not driven to move to the cities to earn their money? Beginning with a few people, I persuaded them to stay at home, to not go into the cities like before. With the help of PLAN Organization, I gathered them into small groups, training them in embroidery and Hiep Hung Group bought all their products. Since then, their families have held this secondary job and their incomes have become more stable and higher than before. Gradually, as the number of women in my program increased, I use the leaders of the communes’ woman associations as the chiefs of projects. They are responsible for general managing, gathering women in commune and exchanging products with our company. In each hamlet I have appointed a header who will directly manage producing groups of that hamlet. I have passed onto them: embroidery, the way of management, and a system of spreadsheets in order to help them control their progress. I have also taught them embroidery techniques, the way of industrial cleaning for all products based on the export standard which has used for 20 years. In the past, women’s income was only from 5.000 to 7.000d/day but now, taking part in this model, their income has increased to over 30.000d/day. Some especially skilled women earn 70.000 to 80.000d/day. The group leaders can now carry out production by themselves. They not only produce orders for Hiep Hung, but they also fulfill orders from other companies. They have accumulated the skill of producing management in embroidery and agriculture. The children no longer have to live in hunger or be lonely because of their parents' lack of time to care. They now go to school and live with their parents. Husbands and wives feel in control of their housework and children. In the village, the problem of drinking and gambling and other evils are decreasing,… the families are warmer and happier. We were very happy to meet with those children again; they said that they are very happy and now have good family meals because their mothers are staying at home. These mothers confided that they are very gay when their children are more obedient and their families have enough to eat 2 meals a day,… I feel that is the most precious award of my life. After nearly 3 years in operation, Hiep Hung Group has helped 800 poor women get jobs in some communes: Van Ly, Chinh Ly, Hop Ly, Don Xa, Boi Cau, An Noi in Ha Nam province and Yen Thanh, Yen Tho in Nam Dinh province. In the near future, we will develop this project in some other poor communes, such as in the provinces of Thai Nguyen and Bac Giang. The International Community in general and specifically, the PLAN Organization have effected this project's success in working against poverty in Vietnam.
Ladies and gentlemen, The success of Hiep Hung Group Pte today is not only our efforts, but it is also a contribution of our 1.800 staff members and workers, 98% of those being women. They have become close-knit with Hiep Hung in passing through their difficult and hard times. They have been with us from a small production complex to the developed and successful group we are today. We also receive support from government agencies, individual persons, friends, fellow-workers and our families... all of whose support helped me realize this dream: a rich population and a strong country. In the near future, besides developing our business, I will continue my chosen way, helping poor women, warming the hearts of unhappy people by our ability to help them manage themselves, to be in self-control of their economic well-being and in control of their lives. We are also trying to contribute to the reduction of negative environmental effects, conserve our peace, prosperous and luxuriant from conscious of our staffs and workers who are working in Hiep Hung Group Pte.
Ladies and gentlemen, On behalf of Chair women of Hanoi network for entrepreneurial woman, I am trying to put my time into joining the Foreign Trade University's marketing club or the program “Hand on Hand for further Progress” of VCCI with BP Group. Through opene discussion with students and entrepreneurs, we – old consultants – are trying to pass onto them our experiences, our skills in enterprise management, on approaching advance labor sources, skills on settling internal and external national difficulties such as tax policies, fund, ect… the structure of management, labor policy, ect… In the last 2 years, I am very happy to see some female student’s who had always been present at the meetings, have now become young entrepreneurial women, and these young entrepreneurs have become confident and spirited entrepreneurs. They promote their companies and orient public support as proposed by our Hiep Hung Group. Congratulations on your success and thank you for listening!
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