WE JUMP TOGETHER WITH WHAT WE HAVE

Lam Dong belongs to the Central Highlands with a diversity of more than 40 ethnic groups living number. The capital of Lam Dong is Dalat, discovered by Dr. Yersin 128 years ago. Since then, many Kinh people began to migrate to Dalat and push pushing indigenous people into remote areas. Social development Nowadays, the gap between rich and poor is deepening. Ethnic minorities gradually lose the resources they have in terms of natural resources and indigenous culture land. Therefore, they are not competent enough to compete in the technocratic culture of the time now.Young people are increasingly losing their roots and have low self-esteem with their father's long-standing cultural identity he and migrated to the city to find work. Faced with that situation, Caritas Dalat has approaching ethnic minority communities, working with people to conduct research save their own community. From then on, they committed to collective action to solve the problem being encountered, to create a change in the community towards more autonomy, more ecology, preserving biodiversity and improving humanity solidarity in the community.

Community leaders – people factor that promotes mutual support and solidarity in the change process. Here follows is the story of Mr. Ha Huynh, leader of the Cil Mup community group.

Cil Mup is a village in Da Tong parish, Diocese of Dalat. Start project Phat People Led Development in May 2014 at Cil mup met very many difficulties because people think the project is charity and the government is afraid of betrayal dynamic. When implementing the project through visiting and working with relatives and employees Caritas sees the need to build their capacity. From there, the project has chapters learning exchange and training program for village people. To make it happen Ha Huynh, also known as Bap Duyen, discussed those activities with the village chief to present to the commune authorities.He must make a commitment letter to the authorities and the commune police about being responsible before the law if problems occur related to politics. Ba Duyen and other branches and organizations in the village Find a direction for the village, form a group to support each other in rice cultivation SRI, composting, silencing cow feed, making intercropped grass coffee. From there Find a suitable farming method for your family. The priority problem faced by Cil Mup is lack of water in production and daily life. They planned to apply for a petition together The project brings water from Tinh Tang waterfall to the production area and back to the village for living purposeslength more than 9km. Bap Duyen called on all resources in the village to form one The project management board asked the cadastral to draw a water pipe map. When performing work presented, the leader of the diocese called on people to participate and contribute their work. The group leaders and housekeepers collect contributions from households. Village government Submit the project proposal to the commune committee and request capital support of 40 million. Completed project It was completed with the contribution of 1,000 contributions from the people in the village. Since then, people have Water for domestic use as well as crop irrigation is reduced production costs.The project management board also appointed 2 management groups for maintenance and Monitor water usage. The project's success is thanks to the solidarity of people and the commitment of Bap Duyen.

In During the working process, Bap Duyen encountered many difficulties. There are many people who think that you Active activities will be highly compensated by Caritas Dalat. From misunderstandings Meanwhile, his wife and children prevented him from continuing his community work. Ba Duyen Just tell my wife and children, "Let them say whatever they want, just do it and live well then''. Just like that, he still silently worked for the village and called on villagers Other communes stood up to fight against the company's plans to invest in housing hydroelectric plant at Tinh Tang Waterfall, a resource that has been associated with life for generations life and culture of the people of Cilmup.From an ordinary, shy farmer shy, only standing at the back of meetings, now Bap Duyen has become the leader of the PLD group and the head of the farmer's association of Cil Mup village. The PLD project has ended but Bap Duyen remains Activities to help people develop together such as managing the village's common coffee garden, Borrow fertilizer and seedlings for people at reasonable prices, especially now Participate in the Social Charity - Caritas board of Da Tong Parish.

Let's change the farming method together Ecological cooperation is the approach chosen by many communities participating in PLD projects choose as Laudato Si farm orientation.

Dinh Trang Hoa is one of the communities that has taken steps to change its methods farming in agriculture. Proud to be the land of the indigenous K'Ho people associated with a long-standing traditional farming culture. Since the time our ancestors opened it, Fertile land, favorable climate all year round, just drop rice seeds, With vegetables, the crops can grow on their own, bear fruit and feed the masses many children of the village. In the past, farmers worked hard to make enough to eat, then they had "food and wealth." to have excess to share with those around you. Thanks to that, the connection in the community is very high.

From In 1989, many families changed their crop structure, from multi-cropping of flowers crops and food to monoculture of Coffee trees grown on large areas big. Farmers' investment in chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and stimulants increased growth to bring high income.  After In the early years, with the miraculous effects of chemicals, people suddenly realized they had to Increase the amount/type of fertilizers and pesticides every year, at market prices The school is unstable. For decades now, farmers have been racing to follow the trend modern agriculture to eradicate poverty, the result is: poverty has not yet been eradicated, but it followsThere are many consequences such as: debt due to investment, degraded land, polluted water sources infection, climate change, many human diseases, and indigenous breeds suffer disappeared,... people lost direction and gradually depleted due to production cycles non-stop (work alone, live alone). Faced with that situation, the Natural farming methods, ecological agriculture, biodiversity are The direction that Caritas Dalat invites farmers to "return to the source" to save Mother Earth and save get yourself.

Year 2016, Dinh Trang Hoa Community Formed the first farmer group of 18 participating households Participate in the learning process organized by Caritas. In October 2016 the group was available The first learning trip at the grass coffee farm of some members Caritas Tan Thanh parish. Here farmers learn how to: improve land, restore Ecological diversity recovery, coffee planting and care techniques... In the connecting space Following that, the group came into contact with agricultural engineers and successful farmer groups production. People see the Coffee farming model without weeding or using itherbicides and not raking the tank (cleaning the soil around the base of the tree) but the tree is still there grows well, gives stable fruit. This way of farming seems 'contrary' to what it is people are doing it and they find it difficult to accept. People also know that: grass does not compete with coffee for nutrients, dry leaves and branches do not hinder the process absorb nutrients from plants. But on the contrary, these two factors increase biomass, Moisture and microorganisms in the soil, providing nutrients, sponging the soil and protecting the soil not washed away. Farmer Dinh Trang Hoa realized this was the way his grandparents used to be I did it and it brought lasting results.

From that learning trip, the group decided to work together Carry out coffee cultivation to grass. At first, each household converted to 1 area small area. Farmers also encounter difficulties in the transition process: the plants do not like it yet response to leaving grass, yellow leaves, and mouse bites. But they continued to learn together and find ways to solve difficulties. After three years of testing, they found it effective has applied the model across the entire cultivated area. They have also added intercropping Many types of fruit trees and other forest trees in the garden. Especially in 2018, there were 7 households Switch to organic coffee farming. Products with the brand name “Oh Mi Koho”meaning "K'Ho Brothers" was born from there. Currently, the land is gradually being restored recovery, less investment, consistent productivity every year. Therefore, farmers have time Take care of your children and keep your health safe because you are not exposed to pesticides. Cities Team members are happy with this success. They have welcomed many groups to visit and wishes to spread the natural sustainable development model to many communities other. To achieve that result, they walked together and supported each other. Have family Husband and wife do not agree on farming methods, thanks to encouragement from other households otherwise, the husband was persuaded to change. Sometimes facing criticism He laughed at the shop for being lazy and not weeding the garden, but they still did it Smile peacefully and believe in yourself and the group's efforts. All those things are based on “permeable human relationships imbued with the surrounding nature, because they feel and think about it as one their socially and culturally integrated reality, as an extension of their body, individuals, families and communities” (quoted from Querida Amazonia, no. 20). That foundation is also the driving force in the story of restoring the community's traditional cultureLoc Tan that we will tell about below.

Story about "Restoring gong culture" Buon Tong Klong Dr Wang - Loc Tan

Tong Klong Dr Wang village belongs to Loc Tan commune, district Bao Lam, Lam Dong Province, 140 km south of Dalat. The majority of people here 85% of the Ma ethnic group lives mainly in agriculture: growing tea, coffee, and work for companies in the area.

While living and working with the community, Ms I have shared many stories about daily life, family, and impressions The most impressive thing for the staff is the story of village elder K' Breh who is over 70 years old. His story shows that Gongs and Stilt Houses are two cultural elements indispensable of the Chau Ma people and in that culture they live strongly in friendship momentum. He said: "In the past, people working in the fields had whatever they could eat, and food was always available Sharing with each other such as: rice, wild vegetables, stream fish, cups, bowls... lived happily and in group bond and love each other. Culturally indispensable in festivals such as:buffalo killing, new rice celebration, weddings, funerals... and after the last tiring days of work Every week, every night they often gather together in the stilt house: to dance dancing, singing, especially the melodies of gongs mixed with the taste of wine Next to the fire, the children were told about epics and epics by the village elders old days. The village at that time was always full of laughter. The stilt house is a place for living, Convergence of community culture, houses were born in villages, cool in the rainy season and warm in the dry season. Made from materials from the mountains and forests such as: forest wood and treesBamboo, bamboo trees, thatched tops, and oak leaf roofs create a unique cultural cradle and shows the ingenuity of the Ma people. Along with that are Gong melodies Gong - the voice of spirituality. In the past, if you wanted to have a set of gongs, you had to exchange them elephants or 20 buffalos should be of great value. But now, the stilt house no longer exists. There are fewer gongs, so the ancient culture is forgotten."

Try to restore the village's stilt houses cherished by the farmer group here since hearing the old stories. Relatives wrote a project to build a traditional stilt house and restore a gong group gong. After general discussions, people made plans and started putting them into practice show. The stilt house was built on land donated by Mr. K' Dim's family. Everyone Work is divided and the process takes place smoothly. Artisans come up with the idea of building a house, roofing, bending rattan and doing important work items submit. Women work in weaving and splitting bamboo.Nam goes into the forest to cut trees, bamboo, rattan and leaves roofing. All coordination work is under the direction of the project management board. Everyone Everyone also has their own duties, everyone works, talks and sings. After One month, people also completed the stilt house with an area of 10m x 4m, with More than 400 people contributed together.

Since there were stilt houses, the village has had a place to give birth Being active and interacting with each other increases the bond and love. Then the artists If you are knowledgeable about gongs, you can also find a place to buy and bring home a set of gongs. Also Since then, dance groups and gong groups have been formed in the village to teach classes children every weekend. Thanks to this activity, people are more aware of the importance of cultural values, solidarity, brotherhood, neighborly love, understanding each other better and know how to work together.

Until now, the activities of the chapter The PLD program is an initiative motivated by the Holy Spirit himself. Because many times above journey, we feel stuck, but new ideas are inspired from the ethnic minority brothers and sisters we are serving. Specifically from beauty, the richness and sacredness of their culture, their solidarity and their very people. Because of a wish that they themselves will lead the process of changing their lives and others The value will be saved forever. 'Let us rejoice with what we have', developing from what we are so that this world becomes rich with the many unique colors of each person and each indigenous ethnic community.