(VOVworld) – Youth Union Secretary Duong Van Thu is head of a youth club helping people in Tan Linh commune, Yen Bai province develop the local economy. Thu’s innovative initiatives have been helpful in improving people’s living conditions.

Thu was born into a poor ethnic family. After finishing high school in 2002, he did many jobs to earn a living but his income was always very modest. In 2007 Thu decided to return to his home commune to find a way to develop the local economy. He saw that Tan Linh’s mountains and streams make it an ideal place to plant trees and raise fish. Thu test planted Vinh oranges, a specialty of Nghe An province, which earned him more than 500 USD from the first harvest 3 years later. Thu decided to plant 500 more orange trees and acacia trees on 4 hectares of land and raise fish and chicken. He said: “I decided to return home because my earnings did not match my hard work. I’m helping others with my experience and I think this is a good way to guard them against social evils like gambling, prostitution and drugs.”

With his earnings, Thu bought farm tools and machinery such as rice threshing machines and mud pumps. He was elected the commune’s Youth Union secretary and head of the local youth club to develop the economy. He has transferred his know-how to other Youth Union members and encouraged them to join the club. One club member, Nguyen Quang Thuan, said: “Club members learn from each other’s experience in crop restructuring to support ourselves and our families.”

Thu is ready to share his techniques for growing trees and raising animals to help people in the area improve their lives. Deputy Secretary of Luc Yen district’s Youth Union, Hoang Trung Chinh, said: “Thu is a prominent Youth Union member and a good example of mutual assistance in developing the economy. We have introduced his business model to other Youth Union members.”