Our family has 5 members but no cultivation land. We have to work for other people in the village. My parents and parents-in-law are both poor so can not support us. My family faced so many difficulties.

When I joined in the Women’s Union in 2003, I were selected to be the leader of a group and sent to attend a training course on water hyacinth basket knitting. The materials from water hyacinth are numerous in our area and I found the way to leave poverty.

I were selected in the list of eligible borrowers and approved by Vi Thuy district transaction office to get the loan of 5 million dongs. I used this amount to buy the materials. At the first steps of business, I created jobs for all family members. When the business went better, I decided to expand the business.

In this way, I created jobs for 10 women in the area with a regular monthly income of 300,000 dongs. After full repayment of the first loan, I were approved to get the second loan of 8 million dongs in 2007. My average net monthly income is currently about 2,5 million dongs. Our lives were improved. Under my successful model, the Women’s Union in Vi Thang commune established a club of water hyacinth baskets knitting and created jobs for hundreds of people.

4 years after the first loan from VBSP, my family now has left poverty and become better-off.

Preferential lending performed by VBSP proves sound and helpful. From my experiences I would like to give anyone in poverty an advice that they should use the loan for suitable purposes. I hope that all poor borrowers can use the loan effectively and efficiently to improve the life of their family in particular and reduce poverty in society in general.