Quang Tri expands early childhood care model

Since its launch under the "Gender-Responsible Parenting for Comprehensive Early Childhood Development in Quang Tri Province" project, the U10 model, "Parents with Children Aged 0-10," has seen significant growth. Currently, 129 U10 groups are actively operating across multiple communes, both within and outside the project area, with a total of 4,224 members. These groups are instrumental in improving the quality of care and supporting the holistic development of children.

The Quang Tri Provincial Women's Union, in partnership with Plan International, has played a key role in developing U10 and "Reading and Play" groups in Huong Hoa and Dakrong Districts. Over more than four years, these initiatives have made significant strides. In 15 project communes, 111 U10 groups with 3,778 members have been established, while expansion into seven non-project districts has added 18 more groups, reaching 446 members. Additionally, 46 "Reading and Play" groups, with 2,143 members, have been created, offering young children enhanced access to books and interactive learning opportunities.Huong Hoa District has extensively implemented the U10 model, establishing 60 U10 groups and 24 "Reading and Play" groups across nearly all villages and hamlets. Ho Thi Minh, leader of a U10 group in Thuan 5 Village, Thuan Commune, said, "Through communication sessions on child health, disease prevention, drowning prevention, and injury prevention, we provide parents with essential knowledge. As a result, they are more involved in their children's upbringing and education."Building on this foundation, the Women's Union has launched the "U10 - Gender Equality" initiative, which highlights the crucial role of fathers in child protection and care. In A Bung Commune, Dakrong District, these groups have successfully engaged numerous fathers. Ho Thi Nghim, Vice President of the A Bung Commune Women's Union, remarked, "Since joining, fathers have gained confidence in raising their children, expressing love more openly through both words and actions. They also dedicate more time to playing with their kids, attend village meetings, and share household responsibilities with their spouses."The U10 model has proven effective in both mountainous and lowland districts. Recognizing its impact, the Hai Lang District Women's Union established 12 U10 groups in late 2023, attracting broad community participation. Nguyen Thi Phuong Lieu, President of the Hai Lang District Women's Union, said: "Seeing the success of the model in remote areas, we wanted to introduce it to our district so that more families could benefit from the support and knowledge these groups offer."

Nguyen Tran Nguyen, Regional Manager of Plan International in Quang Tri, emphasized the project's vital impact on early childhood development. Through these community groups, parents, especially fathers, have gained essential childcare knowledge and skills. As a result, families have restructured caregiving responsibilities, with men playing a more active role in raising children and managing household duties.Despite these achievements, some challenges remain. In certain areas, volunteers lack sufficient facilitation skills to effectively engage fathers. Additionally, some mothers face literacy barriers, making outreach efforts more difficult. Families occasionally forget meeting schedules, complicating participation. In several mountainous communes, the distance to community centers poses logistical challenges for organizing group activities.Plan International and the Women's Union at all levels continue to collaborate closely, working with strong community support to overcome these obstacles. They actively expand the model, mobilize additional resources, and strengthen U10 groups across the province. Their clear goal is to enhance the quality of childcare and education, ensuring a brighter future for young children.