VietNamNet Bridge – When five local households in Xy Commune opened shops in the western region of Quang Tri central province, everyone in the village agreed that it was a significant community event.

On the opening day of the shops, the commune slaughtered a buffalo to celebrate. Ho Van Pung, an elderly villager from the commune was so glad that he raised a toast to everyone and said: "I'm very glad that the Xy people now know how to run a business".

The retail businesses specialise in selling essential items to the villagers.

Self-employment is nothing new to people in other regions, but for the Xy ethnic people living on the top of the Truong Son range, it is an unfamiliar practice.

To help the Xy people learn how to run a shop, the Huong Hoa District People's Committee developed a project to train the villagers. They made a special effort to show women how to calculate money and purchase goods for the stores.

During the first stage, project staff showed the locals how to recognise the different money denominations - VND10,000 or 100,000. Then they taught them the real value of different notes.

This may sound absurd, but it is a reality for the people.

Step by step, the project staff helped local inhabitants understand how to use money and spend it wisely.

Before the project was launched, if any people in the commune happened to hunt a wild boar, they would consume the meat or sell it to a trader.

Any emade from the sale would pent on wine or other enjoyment. Little thought would be given to how the money could be used better, or saving it 'for a rainy day.'

Holding some new notes, in her hand, Ho Thi Thoan proudly said: "Since I was taught how to calculate money, I developed an understanding for using it in a way that can bring greater benefits to the village".

According to Ho Van Lang, Chairman of Xy commune, the population of the area is 1,786 people, and 75% of these people live below the poverty line.

According to statistics, the Xy commune is the poorest commune in Quang Tri Province.

The population mainly live on growing rice or cassava on terraced fields.

Xy Commune was set up in 1995. The land they live on was given to them by the Pa Co ethnic people living in A Tuc Commune, Huong Hoa District. With more than 1,000 ha, the Xy people gave up their nomadic life style and began sedentary farming.

In 1972, there were 36 Xy families. By 1995, the number had dropped to only 15.

Recognising that the Xy ethnic minority faced an imminent population crisis, the Huong Hoa District People's Committee encouraged the Pa Co people to donate some of their land to the Xy people so they could establish their own commune.

It has taken a little over 10 years, but there are now more than 600 Xy children - half of them are already school age and attending schools.

Ho Van Lang, Chairman of the Xy Communal People's Committee, said he himself is one of the Xy ethnic minority.

"I was lucky to be selected to go to Khe Sanh town to study," he said. "I later became the chairman of Xy Commune".

Lang said, the first project which helped the commune was a supply of clean water costing VND2.8bil. This was followed by a project to build a health clinic.

"Over the last 10 years, the lives of the Xy people have drastically improved", said Lang.

All the roads in the commune are now paved. With this infrastructure, including improved roads, many Xy families have invested in buying motorbikes and now use this as a means of daily transportation, a sure sign that the Xy people are really moving ahead.

(Source: Viet Nam News)