A startup processing macadamia in Central Highlands Đắk Nông Province. — VNA/VNS Photo

ĐẮK NÔNG — In Central Highlands Đắk Nông Province, many creative startup models have emerged. And to support and promote their projects, the province’s Youth Union has implemented several practical programmes and activities.

On a 4-hectares site set among fish ponds, a flower garden, stilt houses, jackfruits, coconuts and logans, two teachers Nguyễn Thị Thu Thủy and Ngô Thị Thu Hằng from Chu Văn An High School, Gia Nghĩa City (Đắk Nông), and their students are on a field trip in a forest. This is their first time experiencing such strange but exciting natural wonders.

Student Ngô Thảo Nguyên said that in the past, she had only learned about nature through books.

“After coming to today's experience, I know more about how to plant trees and feed fish. I found it helpful and hope that more friends can participate in these experiences in the future," she said.

The two teachers Hằng and Thủy created the project "Experiential education as ecotourism in Đắk Nông Province" as a way to help students interact with nature.

"After 10 years as a teacher, I realised that if students are only given knowledge, but cannot interact, they will get bored easily,” said Hằng.

At the experience site, students can practice growing fruit and vegetables, see organic livestock farms working in action; visit traditional houses of ethnic minority people; and participate in fun folk games.

Currently, the project is still in the process of investment and completion, but Hằng and Thủy are positive about its effects.

Entrepreneur Trần Văn Hoàng's has had his An Xoa balm on the market for more than two years.

A native of Tuy Đức District in Đắk Nông, Hoàng said he had noticed that there were many precious medicine plants in the district border, especially the An Xoa tree originating from the forests of Bù Gia Mập National Park.

Having seen the use of An Xoa in supporting the treatment of liver disease, he collaborated with Đặng Văn Danh, a renowned traditional medicine practitioner, to produce balm from the tree.

After many unsuccessful trials, the first Trần Hoàng Đắk Nông branded An Xoa balm was finally launched in September 2019.

Hoàng’s An Xoa balm products have been well received by the market and he sells more than 700 jars per year, at VNĐ270,000 (US$11.9) each.

"The product is a supplement for people with liver disease, and it’s the most convenient one because you can use it anywhere," said Hoàng.

Young entrepreneurs in Đắk Nông are ambitious, with a desire to start their own business to enrich themselves, their families and their homeland.

With innovative and highly appreciated models, Đắk Nông’s startup projects have garnered applause and awards, such as being one of Việt Nam Youth Union’s Rural Young Entrepreneur Contest’s finalists, which could earn investment grants of up to VNĐ1 billion ($43,878).

Support for ambitious young people

Trương Văn Bình, deputy secretary of Đắk Nông Youth Union, said that the Youth Union had implemented the programme "Accompanying young entrepreneurs in startups."

The programme aims to facilitate and help connection and the spread of good practices; science and technology knowledge sharing; loan and investment support; and help young entrepreneurs participate in competitions at provincial and national levels.

Through the implementation of the project "Career counselling and job finding for youth in the period of 2018-2022," 12,000 young people have been helped.

The province also coordinated with the Đắk Nông Bank for Social Policy to provide nearly VNĐ700 billion to underprivileged households and young people as capital for business startups.

Two startup competitions in Đắk Nông Province attracted 50 startup projects with nearly 1,000 members and young participants.

The Youth Union also helped to create the Đắk Nông Youth Startup Support Fund, with a total initial capital of VNĐ1 billion for 15 young startups. — VNS