TTLV: Supporting Ede ethnic women's participation in community monitoring activities in the Rural Infrastructure Development Project for Production in the Central Highlands provinces at Buon Ma Thuot city, Dak Lak province.

1. Student's full name: Vu Phuong Linh

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: August 9, 1994

4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Decision No. 4295/2016/QD-XHNV dated December 16, 2016, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, recognizing the student.

6. Changes in the training process:

7. Thesis Title: Supporting Ede ethnic women's participation in community monitoring activities in the Rural Infrastructure Development Project for Production in the Central Highlands provinces, Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak Province

8. Major: Social Work; Code: 60900101

9. Scientific supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Thu Huong – Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities – Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

10. Summary of the thesis results:

This study focuses particularly on the Ede ethnic minority women – one of the ethnic groups with many distinctive cultural features and a rich spiritual life in the Central Highlands region in general and Dak Lak province in particular. Research on activities supporting ethnic minority women in community monitoring serves as a reference point for the activities of social work – an applied science that studies the realities, implementation of policies, and functions of specific target groups.

The study employed a method of surveying public opinion, group discussions with Ede women in the community monitoring committee, and in-depth interviews with members of the monitoring committee/local residents. It was evident that Ede women play a significant role in participating in social work. For project staff, the participation of Ede women in the monitoring committee reflects a more civilized and modern society.

Simultaneously, the study also revealed the difficulties and barriers faced by Ede women in their efforts to participate in community activities and the remedial measures they have been pursuing. The study identified two major sources of support for Ede women's participation in the Community Monitoring Board of the Rural Infrastructure Development Project for Production in the Central Highlands provinces: central-level gender officials and ward-level women's union officials. When compared to the role of a social worker, the activities of these two resources demonstrate five basic roles: (i) Communicator; (ii) Educator; (iii) Counselor; (iv) Mediator (mobilizing and connecting resources); and (v) Changemaker. These are five important roles among the main roles of a social worker.

The role of social workers is not yet accurately recognized. Therefore, to further improve the role of social workers in the two project wards in supporting Ede ethnic women's participation in community monitoring, the study proposed several corrective actions: Firstly, social workers should continuously learn, train, and enhance their knowledge, skills, and professional expertise. They should also promote proactiveness and creativity in various situations; secondly, supplement the project wards with more qualified social work personnel; and thirdly, raise the awareness of local residents, creating conditions for providing information about the role of semi-professional social workers, helping them better understand the tasks of these workers.

11. Practical applications:

12. Future research directions:

13. Published works related to the thesis:

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Vu Phuong Linh 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: August 9, 1994 4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Admission decision number: 4295/2016/QD-XHNV Dated: December 16, 2016

6. Changes in academic process:

7. Official thesis title: Support for Ede ethnic women to participate in community monitoring activities in Productive Rural Infrastructure Development Project in the Central Highlands in Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak Province

8. Major: Social work 9. Code: 60900101

10. Supervisors: Assoc. Prof., Ph.D Hoang Thu Huong – The faculty of Sociology – The University of Social, Sciences and Humanities – Vietnam National University, Hanoi

11. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

The research focuses on a group of ethnic minority women Ede. Ede people are famous for various cultural characteristics in Dak Lak, Tay Nguyen. The study about helping ethnic minority women with social activities refers to social work – a scientific branch which researches the status, the policy execution and the function of a group. To complete the paper, there are many methods such as referendum, group discussions with Ede women, interview with local leaders. The paper shows the difficulties that Ede women have in joining in social work and also the solutions they are trying to apply. Moreover, the paper finds out two biggest supporters for Ede women in social work “The development of rural infrastructure for manufacturing in Tay Nguyen”: central officials and representatives for Women's Union. As social workers, these people play important roles: (i) propagandists, (ii) educators, (iii) consultants, (iv) agents, (v) innovators. The role of social workers is still underestimated. Therefore, the research proposes some solutions. Firstly, social workers should try to broaden knowledge and be active and creative in all situations. Secondly, the human resource supply should be focused in the projects. Finally, the local people should be given more information about social work.

12. Practical applicability, if any:

13. Further research directions, if any:

14. Thesis-related publications: