When preparing for her son’s first day at school, one mother weighed her first grader’s schoolbag. It weighed 2.7 kilos.

Implementing the 2009 work plan, the standing committee of Ha Nam provincial Women’s Union organized a training class on “improving knowledge on state management and women’s union work” for 232 women who are full time women’s union cadres and key cadres at local women’s unions of Ha Nam province from 28th July to 1st August 2009.

Suoi Da is a rural, large and populous commune of Duong Minh Chau district, Tay Ninh province. More than 90% of the households are doing agricultural works. The number of poor households is 511 (equivalent to 17% total households), among which, there are 122 poor female-headed households.

Under the framework of the project “Law and life club” (LARC II) to improve capacity of the women’s union, Bac Kan provincial Women’s Union organized a training course on skills of law communication and counseling for its staff and the staff of local justice organs. This project is funded by CARE International in Vietnam in collaboration with Bac Kan provincial Women’s Union and was implemented at Cho Moi and Na Ri districts from June 2007.

Recently, Quang Binh provincial Women’s Union organized a meeting to evaluate 5 year implementation of providing entrusted loans for poor households and beneficiaries of social policies and commence the work plan for the last 6 months of 2009.