PHAN  THI  THUY  

Quang  Phuong  Bamboo  Production  Cooperative,  Chairwomen  VI

ETNAM

 

Training  poor  rural  women  in  bamboo  handicraft  production    

The  success  story  of  a  female  cooperative  in  Quang  Binh  province,  Vietnam  

Thuy  is  a  master  trainer  in  the  production  of  bamboo  and  rattan  handicrafts.  She  lives  in  the  commune  of  Quang  Phuong,  Quang  Binh  province,  Vietnam.  

Her  Cooperative  counts  today  with  50  members  and  more  than  200  employees  that  work  from  home,  most  of  them  women.    

From  starting  off  very  small  with  limited  understanding  of  the  market,  the  Cooperative  has  made  considerable  success  in  recent  years;  today,  their  bamboo  products  reach  markets  in  Vietnam  as  well  as  in  Laos,  Thailand,  and  Cambodia.    

 The  Cooperative  is  providing  regular  jobs  for  poor  farmers  not  just  for  Quang  Phuong  commune,  but  also  in  other  neighbouring  communes  and  districts  where  the  artisans  from  Quang  Phuong  regularly  offer  training  and  assistance.  

In  2013,  Thuy  started  offering  her  training  services  also  to  NGOs  and  other  local  and  regional  organizations.  As  she  states:  “We  generally  provide  training  to  other  women  at  district  level  under  the  umbrella  of  Government’s  activities.  Recently  I  have  approached  a  local  NGO  to  assist  people  with  disabilities  in  the  production  of  bamboo  handicrafts.  This  would  generate  more  employment  for  us”.  

Phan  Thi  Thuy  provides  specialized  training  in  bamboo  and  rattan  handicraft  production.  

You  can  contact  her  at:  

phanthithuyvan@gmail.com  

+84052  3514621/  0985226757  

Quang  Phuong  Commune,  Quang  Binh  Province,  Vietnam