[Vcil Members' Talks #3] The Story of the Grass-Filling Model - An Initiative Supporting Livelihoods for Small-Scale Farmers

November 22, 2025, the Vcil Members' Talks #3 session: "The Story of Grass's Refill Model - An Initiative Supporting Livelihoods for Small Farmers" took place in a warm atmosphere, centered around the story of Vo Phi Yen, founder of Nha Co (Grass House), and how her initiative started with a simple idea.

From her reflections, Yen guided participants through experiences from visits to the refill collection points in District 1, helping us understand the comprehensive ecosystem of the model. The story went beyond just talking about products; it was about her deep observation of the community, the challenges faced by small farmers and vendors, and how she decided to create a system to support them.

The conversation was not limited to introducing a consumption model or farming technique, but it was also an opportunity for VCIL Community members to understand together about the values and motivations that drive sustainable consumption and healthy living. It was about going back to the basics - understanding what truly matters to us.

INITIAL REFLECTIONS ON WHAT MATTERS

When it comes to sustainable consumption and healthy living, we might think about choosing products of good quality with clear origins, products that do not harm the environment, or practices that protect farmers' welfare. However, the question is: Why do we care about these things? What drives us to choose differently from what we are accustomed to?

Yen's story helped us see that behind the refill model is not just a clever consumption strategy, but a response to the real needs of small farmers - the need to access a fair market, to have stable customers, and to be able to earn a living from what they cultivate.

For the vendors and those involved in the ecosystem, the refill collection points serve not only as places of transaction but also as spaces where they can connect with customers who genuinely care about their welfare and the quality of the products they provide.

For the consumers, choosing products from the refill model means participating in a system where every purchase decision is a vote of confidence in those small producers and vendors, and where consumption becomes an act of solidarity.

THE JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION: FROM INDIVIDUAL CHOICE TO SYSTEMIC CHANGE

Beyond the conversation about refill and sustainable consumption, Yen also shared about her journey of transformation - from working in the corporate world to dedicating herself to supporting small farmers and building community-oriented initiatives.

She shared about the turning points in her life and how each experience helped her understand what she truly values. Her journey is a reminder that transformation is not always about grand gestures; sometimes it begins with small, conscious choices that align with our values.

In the context of VCIL Community, this journey of transformation is at the heart of our learning experience. We believe that before we can create meaningful change in the world, we must first understand ourselves - our values, our motivations, our biases, and the systems that shape our thinking and behavior.

REFLECTIONS ON BUILDING COMMUNITY AND ECOSYSTEM

One of the key takeaways from Yen's sharing was the importance of building not just a business model, but a whole ecosystem - one that is grounded in community and mutual support.

Yen emphasized that the success of the refill model does not lie in the sophistication of the logistics or the scale of the market. Instead, it lies in the relationships built between producers, vendors, and consumers - relationships based on trust, transparency, and genuine care for each other's welfare.

This resonated strongly with the values that VCIL Community is trying to embody. We believe that sustainable change can only happen when we build communities and systems that are grounded in values such as care, transparency, and mutual responsibility.

As we continue to learn and grow as a community, Yen's story and the refill model serve as a beautiful example of how small initiatives, grounded in deep understanding and genuine care, can create meaningful change in the lives of individuals and communities.