Following positive results from earlier implementation in three border communes of Tay Ninh Province, BAT Vietnam has expanded its “Women’s Empowerment” program to Phuoc Chi Commune, providing additional resources to help underprivileged women develop household livelihoods and strengthen community stability along the border.

A livelihood support for women in border areas

In border communes, local livelihoods are often tied to small-scale economic activities such as animal husbandry, farming, small-business management, seasonal work or home-based outsourcing. For many women, these activities form an important part of household income, helping cover daily expenses, support their children’s education and build greater resilience against life’s uncertainties.

On this backdrop, on June 25, BAT Vietnam continued to expand its “Women’s Empowerment” program in Phuoc Chi Commune (Tay Ninh Province), providing VND550 million in loan capital to 55 underprivileged women in the locality for the 2026-2027 period. Each household will have access to an interest-free loan of VND10 million for 12 months to develop legal, safe and suitable livelihood models based on their actual family conditions.

A VND10 million loan may not transform a household’s life overnight. Yet for a family in need of additional capital to start raising livestock, replenish goods for a small stall or maintain production, it can become the starting point of a new livelihood cycle. From this initial source of capital, women gain more opportunities to generate income, build savings, repay loans and gradually become more confident in managing their household economy.

Ms. Thi Thi Be Loan, Chairwoman of the Women’s Union of Phuoc Chi Commune, said the locality was entering a new stage of development, in which improving people’s living standards, especially those of underprivileged women, remained an important task.

“We highly appreciate the practical significance of the ‘Women’s Empowerment’ program of BAT Vietnam. In addition to providing loan capital and encouraging women to use the capital for the right purposes and effectively, the program also accompanies them through training activities, technical guidance on animal husbandry and farming, household economic management, and awareness-raising on not participating in or abetting smuggling activities. These activities help women gain more knowledge, take greater responsibility for their families and communities, and contribute to the overall stability of the locality,” Ms. Thi Thi Be Loan shared.

In border areas, community stability is built upon many layers, including the well-being of each household. When local people have jobs, income and the conditions to remain attached to their land and villages, border communities gain a stronger foundation for sustainable development.

For women, a stable household livelihood gives them better conditions to care for their children, look after their family’s health, learn new skills and develop themselves. From that foundation, women become more confident in participating in local activities and contributing to community life.

From small loans to livelihood ownership

A notable feature of the “Women’s Empowerment” program lies not only in providing capital, but also in the way that capital is managed. After receiving loans, participating women are monitored, reminded and guided by the local Women’s Union and village-level women’s branches to ensure the capital is used for the right purposes. They are also encouraged to maintain regular savings habits. As a result, the loans do not merely address short-term financial needs. They also help borrowers develop awareness of cash-flow management, balance household spending and take responsibility for their long-term livelihood plans.

In late 2025, the program was implemented in three border communes of Tay Ninh Province, namely Nhon Hoa Lap, Dong Thanh and My Quy, with total capital of VND1 billion. After six months, the loans had been used for various livelihood models suited to local conditions, including animal husbandry, farming, small-business management, garment outsourcing, and the purchase of pumps and vehicles to support production and transport agricultural products.

Mid-term reports showed that many models had begun generating additional income for households. Some chicken and pig farming households recorded profits of VND6-10 million per production cycle; fish farming households earned VND8-12 million per pond; garment outsourcing households generated around VND4-5 million per month; and small-business households increased their monthly income by VND3-5 million. Notably, all households were encouraged to make regular savings, thereby forming the habit of accumulation and preparing resources for loan repayment.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong, a participant from Dong Thanh Commune, said the loan had helped her family maintain the home-based pig farming model.

“In the past, I wanted to expand pig farming, but we had little capital and could only do things gradually. Since receiving the interest-free loan, I have had more money to buy additional piglets and become more proactive in managing expenses. Every month, I also try to set aside some savings to prepare for repayment. The happiest thing is that my family now has a more stable source of income, and I feel more confident because I can see that, with proper planning, even a small loan can help us do many things,” she shared.

From this reality, it can be seen that when a small loan is placed within an appropriate support mechanism, the value it creates goes beyond a single livelihood model. More importantly, women are empowered to assess their options, choose suitable approaches, accumulate small savings and take responsibility for their family’s economic plans. That is a practical way of empowerment: not doing things on behalf of women, not merely “giving them fish”, but “giving them the fishing rod”, creating foundation for women to stand firmly on their own through their livelihoods.

Through the “Women’s Empowerment” program, BAT Vietnam continues to accompany Women’s Union chapters at all levels in supporting underprivileged women to access interest-free loans and develop legal, safe and sustainable livelihoods.

From Phuoc Chi, the 55 households receiving loan support will turn this assistance into 55 concrete economic plans. And if each loan is used for the right purpose, each livelihood model generates an additional source of income, and each family gains a stronger foothold, then the program’s greatest value lies not only in the VND550 million provided, but also in the confidence it helps inspire: that women in border areas are fully capable of taking ownership of their own journey towards a better life.