The journey of starting a business from loofah of a highland woman is not simply an economic problem, but also contains a deep humanistic aspiration: to keep mothers and sisters in their hometowns, helping them have stable incomes and together create sustainable values for the community.
Startup from indigenous resources
The lives of highland women like Ms. Xa Thi Nga, who are attached to the fields all year round, familiar with each cassava root and corn. Despite working hard, enduring the sun and mist, the income of the people is still extremely precarious, many people have to leave their hometowns to work as workers far from home. That painful reality has made Ms. Nga always concerned about creating jobs right in the locality.
Ms. Nga confided about her motivation: "Many women in the village have to leave their hometowns to work as workers far from home, without conditions to take care of their families and children. That makes me always wonder how to create jobs right in my hometown for people, especially women.
The turning point came on a simple day in the fields, when she accidentally noticed the missed gourds because she did not have time to pick them to sell when they were still young. Looking at the durable gourd fibers hidden behind the dry skin, a stream of thoughts suddenly flashed in the head of the Muong woman.
Why not take advantage of loofah to make products for daily life such as pots and pans, bath sponge, dishwashing brush... to replace plastic utensils?" - Ms. Nga thought.
Starting to work, Ms. Nga faced many difficulties. In the early days when sharing the idea, many women in the village were still hesitant because this was too new a direction, not seeing the future clearly. Not discouraged, she was determined to experiment first to prove it. She diligently processed each lotus seed herself, meticulously crafted the simplest products, and then, while doing it, learned from experience to gradually improve from cleanliness, durability to appearance. Up to now, she is still diligently refining each technical step to ensure the best quality of products when released to the market.
Creating green livelihoods and long-term vision
Green startup is not a road paved with roses but requires patience. Because she has not officially launched products on the large market, Ms. Nga is currently focusing maximally on improving quality and carefully researching customer needs.
Ms. Nga shared: "I think that if we want sustainable development, products must not only be environmentally friendly but also truly convenient, durable and aesthetically pleasing.
Although the project is still in the early stages of germination, and income has not made a strong breakthrough, good signs have begun to sprout. Initially, Ms. Nga's luffa weaving workshop has created more seasonal jobs during idle farming for about 10 sisters in the hamlet. Gradually, the model brings Ms. Nga tens of millions of dong in income each month. More importantly, people are starting to realize that, from things that seem to be discarded in their hometown, they can also create practical economic value.
Talking about her aspiration to reach further, Ms. Nga plans to continue to improve products and find more stable outlets in the near future. When the market is expanded, she will increase production scale to create more stable jobs for women in the region, helping them no longer have to live in exile. Looking back at the arduous but proud journey that has passed, what warmed her heart the most is the companionship and trust of her villagers. For her, this is not only an economic story but also a journey to jointly preserve local resources to create green values for the future.
Closing the story about the Muong woman full of willpower, Ms. Nga sent a heartfelt message: "The most important thing is perseverance and faith in the path you choose. You may go slowly, but if you do it honestly and do it thoroughly, there will be results.
Ms. Nga's journey is igniting a flame of hope, weaving a prosperous livelihood for women in remote areas from the pure materials of her homeland.
