Hanoi, May 3rd, 2026 – Amidst the early season rains, CFC Vietnam organized the first Focus Group Discussion titled “A Moment for Us – Một chút cho mình.” This event served as the kick-off activity for the project “Resilience & Rising: Building a Shared Narrative on the Wellbeing of Vietnam’s Low-Income Single Mothers” (Telling the Stories of Single Mothers in Hanoi).
From a leader’s passion to a community mission. The project originated from the personal aspirations of Ms. Nguyen Hoang Anh, CEO of CFC Vietnam. With a desire to transform private experiences into a resonant shared voice, she, along with her colleagues at The Equity Initiatives, developed this book-writing and research project. What began as an idea for a personal “memoir” has evolved into a collaborative journey where single mothers join together to write their own stories and those of the community.
When “assumptions” give way to practical empathy. During the project’s development, the CFC Vietnam team had assumed that finances or social stigma would be the greatest barriers for single mothers. However, through the candid sharing during the discussion, the core issues emerged more clearly:Parenting challenges: How to compensate for the absence of a father figure, maintain a civilized relationship with the paternal family, and optimize limited resources for the child’s best development.
Mental health and isolation: The hardship of being the sole breadwinner, bearing every responsibility without a solid emotional support system.
We are not alone on this journey. The discussion saw the participation of mothers from various generations (7x, 8x, 9x) with diverse backgrounds. Although each mother is on her own unique path, within the space of “A Moment for Us,” everyone found common ground.
CFC Vietnam believes that when personal stories are told and heard, loneliness recedes. This aligns perfectly with the message pursued by the project members: “When single mothers no longer tell only their own stories but join together to create a shared voice – to understand, to support, and to move forward more steadily.”
A journey of spreading enduring strength. The success of this first discussion has provided further motivation for CFC Vietnam on the road ahead. These real-life insights will serve as a vital foundation for the project to continue its research activities and book publishing in the near future.Our sincere thanks to the mothers for their trust and openness, and to The Equity Initiatives for their partnership and support in helping CFC Vietnam realize this meaningful project.
