Although it was established less than three months ago, the “Effective mass mobilization” initiative entitled “Religious women join hands to build the women’s Union and lead good lives in harmony with their faith” in Huổi Lếch village, Mường Toong commune, has attracted 63 active participants. Meetings, discussions and joint activities not only give women more opportunities to socialize but also help bring the Women’s Union closer to local women.

Lù Thị Thắm, Chairwoman of the Mường Toong  commune Women’s Union, said that around 95% of women in Huổi Lếch follow a religion. This calls for the Women’s Union to adopt an appropriate approach to maintaining regular contact, understanding members’ concerns and aspirations, and communicating the Party’s guidelines, the State’s policies and laws, and the union’s activities.

The commune’s Women’s Union therefore selected the Huổi Lếch village Women’s Union branch to pilot the initiative, bringing together religious women and encouraging them to play a more active role. The model provides a shared space where women can connect and participate more fully in local movements.

Through the initiative, members receive information about the Party’s guidelines, the State’s policies and laws, resolutions adopted at women’s union congresses at all levels, as well as emulation movements and campaigns launched by the union. More importantly, regular meetings and exchanges help union officials better understand members’ needs and provide timely encouragement for them to take part in collective activities.

“Through these meetings, we gain a better understanding of the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws, which helps us put them into practice. In particular, cultural, artistic and sporting activities bring members closer together, help us enjoy ourselves and encourage us to participate enthusiastically in movements in our village and commune,” said Thào Thị Mú, Head of the Huổi Lếch village Women’s Union branch and coordinator of the initiative.

At the recent Ethnic Cultural Festival in Mường Toong commune, women from Huổi Lếch village actively took part in friendly sporting and cultural activities. With a format suited to their needs, the initiative gives women a sense of enjoyment and solidarity, as well as more opportunities to participate in community life.

To ensure that Women’s Union branches at all levels serve as a source of support and a safe haven for women and their families, the Điện Biên provincial Women’s Union has stepped up community-based assistance, with particular emphasis on fostering solidarity and helping members facing especially difficult circumstances.

Recently, dozens of members of the Đắng village Women’s Union branch in Nà Tấu commune joined forces to dig the foundations for a house for Lò Thị Cương, a woman from a poor household whose family lacked stable housing. When her family received support to build a solidarity house, fellow members contributed their labor to help get construction underway as quickly as possible. For Cương’s family, their contribution reduced building costs and accelerated construction. For the women involved, it was a meaningful way to turn mutual care and a sense of responsibility into concrete action.

Alongside supporting women of working age, some local branches are also expanding opportunities for older women to participate in community activities. Although these women have extensive life experience, they do not always have access to activities suited to their needs. In Quài Tở commune, the initiative “Older women participating in Women’s Union activities” was established to give them more opportunities to socialize, share experiences and contribute to their families and communities.

Developed under the direction of the Tân Lập village Party cell, with professional guidance from the Quài Tở commune Women’s Union, the initiative holds meetings every three months. This schedule allows older women to participate at their own pace while maintaining regular contact, rather than meeting only at general gatherings or union events.

During these meetings, the Quài Tở commune Women’s Union provides knowledge and practical guidance on health care, building happy families, preserving family cultural values, and educating and raising children and grandchildren. The gatherings also give members a chance to exchange experiences, discuss everyday concerns and encourage their families to take part in local emulation movements and campaigns.

Drawing on their life experience, knowledge and standing within their families and communities, these women can continue to play an important role in educating younger generations, preserving family traditions, passing on positive cultural values and encouraging relatives to participate in local activities. When given opportunities to contribute, older women are not left on the sidelines of community movements; instead, they become active participants in building happy families and cohesive communities.

Beyond grassroots campaigns, clubs and initiatives, ties within the Điện Biên Women’s Union are also strengthened through everyday activities. A flower-planting and roadside beautification campaign launched by the provincial Women’s Union in early 2026, featuring initiatives such as “Flowers at the base of every tree” and “A thousand flowers along every road,” has attracted women in many localities.

In Nà Tấu, Mường Lạn, Mường Phăng, Chà Tở, Pu Nhi and other communes, numerous stretches of road have been brightened with colorful flowers. At weekends, women gather to weed, tend the soil, water the plants and care for flower beds along the roads. Chrysanthemums, cosmos and roses add splashes of color to the surroundings, making village access roads and roads between villages cleaner, more attractive and more welcoming.

Across Điện Biên, each locality has its own characteristics, and women’s circumstances and needs vary accordingly. Developing clubs and initiatives tailored to different groups of members and the conditions of individual villages has helped the Women’s Union build closer ties with local women. When activities address their practical needs, women are more willing to participate, support one another and contribute to community development.

The value of these clubs, initiatives and women’s movements can be seen in tangible improvements in members’ lives and their communities. They create more opportunities for women to build lasting connections, develop their abilities, support one another in improving their livelihoods, build happy families and take an active part in community affairs.