The happiness of sharing

The story of Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Von, My Long commune, Cau Ngang district, Tra Vinh province

In the past, my husband was very conservative so he wouldn't let me go to meetings or even seeing my friends. Every time there's a training session in remote provinces such as Bac Lieu or Ca Mau or Can Tho, he always goes on these trips instead of me. I only stay at home to take care of my children and look after the homemaking tasks.

However, after participating in the seminar on gender equality, he has changed a lot in his awareness and also his daily routine. 

We now understand what gender equality is. Now, the housework is divided between both of us. When he goes to work, then I would stay at home to take care of the children and do housework. He feeds the kids foodso that I can cook and clean the house. Or both us would clean the house when their grandmother help us take care of the children.

Both large and small expenses in the family are now discussed by both of us. We discuss openly with each other on what to spend, what to do, we even consult each other on the purchase of the most simple and smallest gadgets. Both of us also discuss with each other carefully about more important decisions within the family such as selecting specialized schools for our children to go into or investing in production, giving our opinions on the advantages and disadvantages of the issues.

It is also very important that my husband and the in-laws create conditions for me to participate in social activities such as participating in training courses and seminars to acquire new knowledge. In the past, even going to class meetings or seeing my friends, my husband would not let me go.

Seeing the changes from my husband and my husband's family, as a wife and mother, I feels very happy because now I have a husband to sympathize with and to share happy and difficult moments. These positive changes have made our family happier and hopefully, this change will be promoted in even a more positive light.

“Strengthening group cohesion in the clam value chain through collective action and gender equality” within the framework of cooperation with the project “Sustainable and comprehensive development of the Clam and Bamboo Value Chain in Vietnam” (SCBV). ) funded by the European Union. The project is jointly implemented by Oxfam and the Center for International Cooperation in Aquaculture and Fisheries Sustainability (ICAFIS) and stakeholders from November 2019 to January 2021.