Vietnamese organization ForGood Vietnam held a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City last week to award achievement certificates to 40 women participating in its Future For Women program, which is designed to uplift women’s economic status through training, mentorship, community building, and support resources.

The program included the participation of 40 entrepreneurial women, 15 program consultants, and media agencies concerned with women’s entrepreneurship, ForGood Vietnam said in its press release. 

It was supported by the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam in the 2020-21 year and continues to receive support from the Echidna Giving Fund in 2022-23.

The eligible participating women, all 18 years old and above, were selected from over 150 applicants to take part in the six-month training program. 

The cohort received comprehensive training designed to enhance various aspects of their entrepreneurship ideas and foster personal and professional growth in multiple domains, including knowledge and leadership, business acumen, emotional intelligence, social skills, and entrepreneurial skills.

Furthermore, the program provided support in overcoming the gender-based constraints that negatively impact the businesses of women entrepreneurs.

The participants received one-on-one mentorship from experts in their respective business fields and will have access to a network of female entrepreneurs to facilitate knowledge-sharing and collaboration. 

The program also offered practical information on the various support resources available to women entrepreneurs, aimed at enhancing their chances of success.

Following the completion of the program, a total of 26 businesses were founded by the participants and are currently operating across a wide range of sectors, such as food and beverage services, tourism, technology solutions, accommodation services, children’s playgrounds, healthcare, electricity and electronics, fine arts, law, agriculture, and many more.

These businesses are located in diverse localities across Vietnam, including Quang Ninh, Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau, Vinh Long, and Can Tho.

A survey of the performance of these businesses revealed that 50 percent of them generated revenue of less than VND300 million (US$12,715), 32 percent earned revenue between VND300 million and VND1 billion ($42,382), and 16 percent made revenue in excess of VND1 billion. 

In terms of workforce, 60 percent of the enterprises are employing less than five individuals, 16 percent hire five to 10 individuals, and 12 percent use more than 15 people.

“As a male stakeholder in this initiative, I take great pride in observing the tangible outcomes that have been achieved by the female entrepreneurs,” said Huynh Le Khanh, co-founder of ForGood Vietnam.

Additionally, 40 women who completed the Future For Women program are now officially members of the Women Entrepreneur Community of Vietnam (WECV), founded and supported by ForGood Vietnam.

The goal of WECV is to create a diverse and authentic community of women entrepreneurs, aiming to enhance their role and image in the economy of Vietnam, thereby promoting gender equality through the empowerment of women’s economic strength. 

After a year of operation, the community has attracted more than 600 registered members.

Women entrepreneurs who participate in WECV continue to receive training on relevant knowledge and skills related to female leadership and business management. 

This is also a platform for businesses and female managers to access advanced learning programs, diverse scholarships from both domestic and foreign organizations, and exchange and learn from successful business models from large companies in the same field. 

WECV also promotes initiatives to enhance the image and role of women in society through community activities such as the SheFuture competition, empowering the economic potential and leadership role of female students.

ForGood Vietnam serves marginalized groups within society, including young girls, women, the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals who are environmentally conscious.

The organization provides personal capacity-building training programs and social awareness campaigns related to the aforementioned groups to equip them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and support networks.

Its ultimate goal is to help them fully realize their strengths and participate in society on an equal footing, thereby contributing positively and practically to the community and society as a whole.

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