Event: “Honoring Female Scrap Collectors in Hoi An City”

Scrap collection has long been a familiar part of Vietnamese daily life. Though it may seem like an ordinary job, few people recognize the significant value it brings to the community. Understanding the hardships and dedication of those in this profession, this event aimed to acknowledge their contributions and highlight the beauty of the women who make up the majority of scrap collectors in the area. On December 20, the Hoi An Women's Union, in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Center for Supporting Green Development (GreenHub), the Association for the Disabled, Children's Rights, and Poor Patients of Quang Nam Province, and the Center for Building & Promoting Sustainable Development (BUS), successfully organized the event “Honoring Female Scrap Collectors in Hoi An City.”

Key Highlights of the Event:

• The Hoi An Women’s Union officially launched the "Women’s Recyclable Waste Collection Chapter" with the participation of 40 female scrap collectors, aiming to maintain the effectiveness of the city’s socialized waste management model, first introduced in 2013.

• A knowledge-sharing session was held between female scrap collectors and stakeholders to discuss experiences and best practices in plastic waste collection.

• IUCN and GreenHub donated 54 Green Houses to the Hoi An Women’s Union to support waste separation at the source, in alignment with Hoi An’s plan to establish and operate Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in March 2022.

This initiative was not just an occasion to honor and recognize the silent contributions of these women. It also aimed to instill a sense of pride in their work, empowering them to take an even more active role in environmental protection and community sustainability.