TANG DUYEN HONG
Empowering single mothers through free counselling, family planning, skills training and business support.
VIETNAM
Hong runs the largest support group for single mothers in Vietnam and enables women to be free from stigma, abuse and shame.
After finding herself unexpectedly pregnant as a young unmarried woman, Hong faced numerous new challenges. Hong felt that she and her daughter were unsupported and disrespected by Vietnamese society, something she quickly learned was common for women in her situation.
Hong understood that she had 2 choices: to either accept the fact that her life from now on would lonely, full of discrimination, and her voice would never heard; or to decide that it was unacceptable to discriminate against single mothers, and it’s time someone did something about it.
She chose the latter!
Hong began by writing a blog to connect with other women in similar situations. Her blog quickly became the largest online community of single mothers in Vietnam, with more than 80,000 subscribers.
Through the discussions on her blog Hong understood that many women were stuck in unhealthy relationships or were forced to return to abusive partners as they couldn’t support their children alone. There was a great desire from these women to work but with little education, time and resources they had no way of improving their situations.
So Hong set up a training course to support these disadvantaged but very determined women, through free counselling and vocational training, as well as English classes for their children, so that each woman and child could receive the help they need to become independent and successful. Once they finish training, Hong works hard to find job placements for them through her extensive networks.
Hong also provides small loans to graduates of her course who are ready to start their own businesses. For women who need support and protection, Hong connects women to counselling, parenting and family planning support, and conducts nationwide campaigns to remove stigma for single mothers. Vietnam is a safer more inclusive country for single mothers thanks to Hong’s dedication to supporting and empowering them.
Make a donation for Hong to put where it’s needed most or check out her current projects below.
Contact jo@justpeoples.org to learn more about how you can support Hong’s work.