Cologne/Danang. 'Two steps forward, non back' - This is indeed the motto of the participants of the seminars on business start-ups offered by Malteser International for women in Vietnam: In the low-income province of Quang-Nam and in the impoverished districts of the city of Danang, Malteser International teaches women of needy families entrepreneurial and trading skills. In role plays and exercises, the women develop products and operating plans in order to work more successfully in the future and, thus, to secure the income of their families.

'Three years ago I was desperate', says Thuy Diem, one of the participants of the programme, who has gone into business for herself as a tailor. 'Today, I have seven employees and my own fashion label.' Many of the women are sole earners; their former monthly income often was below eight Euros. 'My dream is fulfilled: today, I have a safe income and my family has escaped from poverty', Thuy Diem says. Like her, already 1,150 women took part in such seminars since they started in the year 2000. 67 per cent of the participants, among them sewers, saleswomen, farmers and basket makers, after the training could raise their income and thus improve the living situation of their children and families on a sustained basis. Some of them even qualified to work as trainers for the seminars.

'The self-esteem of the women increases as they manage to save themselves from poverty by using their own knowledge and skills. They get the courage to take their life into their own hands', Cordula Wasser, Country Coordinator Vietnam of Malteser International, explains. The seminars are part of a comprehensive programme reaching more than 2,000 families. It enables the women to improve their own and their children's health, food and income situation. Besides the seminars on business start-ups, Malteser International also informs mothers and pregnant women about nutrition, health care and hygiene, distributes seeds and animals as well as complementary food for undernourished children and trains local health workers.

For its projects in Vietnam, Malteser International appeals for donations:

Donation Account 120 120 120 Bank fuer Sozialwirtschaft, Woerthstr.15-17, D-50668 Koeln Sort Code 370 205 00, IBAN : DE49 3702 0500 0001 0258 01, BIC: BFSWDE33XXX Reference: 'Vietnam'

The seminars on business start-ups are based on the CEFE (Competency based Economies Formation of Enterprise) concept which is designed to improve entrepreneurial and trading skills. CEFE particularly aims to qualify disadvantaged social classes and contributes to the stimulation of the economy in development countries. The programme is realised in cooperation with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Germany and the Women's Union Vietnam.

Since 1966, Malteser International is active in Vietnam, which until today is one of the poorest countries in Asia.

Attention editorial offices! Cordula Wasser, Country Coordinator Vietnam of Malteser International, is available for interviews. Please contact +49 (0) 221 / 9822 - 155.

For more Information please contact: Petra Ipp, Senior Desk Officer Communication, Malteser Internationa Phone: +49-221-9822-155, Fax +49-221/9822-179; petra.ipp@malteser-international.org; www.malteser-international.org