Doctors from Yen The General Hospital provides medical checks-up and medicine for local people in Dong Son commune. (Photo: Tuyet Mai).

Reducing difficulties

Taking us to her new kitchen, Nguyen Thi Ly in Hop Ly hamlet, Bac Ly commune, Hiep Hoa district, said: “Without support from Mot Tam Long (One Heart) Club, we could not have had such a clean place to prepare meals”. The nearly 20 square-meter kitchen with lime-washed wall and fibro cement roofs is close to a well, which is convenient for the daily life.

Ly stressed that with the previous kitchen which was covered by bamboo lattice panels, she could not cook when it rained and the whole family had to work with empty stomach those days. Along with the new kitchen, the club also helped her family concretize the courtyard.

Meanwhile, thanks to generous benefactors, Nguyen Thi Thanh in Mat hamlet, An Lap commune, Son Dong district, has money to buy rice, clothes, blankets and a bicycle for her grandchild. Previously, despite her old age, she had to sell lye water dumplings to make ends meet. She is caring for one child with mental disorders, two orphan grandchildren and disabled husband.

“Thanks to the assistance of donators, our family has relieved difficulties. Through Bac Giang Newspaper, I want to extend my thanks to organizations and individuals for helping us”, Thanh said.

Diversifying charity activities

Benefactors hold different positions in society, from officials, civil servants, business owners, workers to Buddhist monks and followers. The donations have been made in cash, workdays or knowledge (legal consultancies and providing free medical check-up).

Purple Rose Charity Group presents gift to Vi Thi Vung in Dong Khao home, An Lac commune (Son Dong district).

According to Tran Tuan Hiep, head of the Mot Tam Long Club, at first, he only used his savings to support poor people. Then, he mobilized other people to join charity activities, making the work much more effective.

After over 10 days of calling for assistance to Ly’s family, the club received the response from many benefactors. The kitchen and courtyard were renewed at a cost of over 10 million VND (440 USD). The club also called for donation worth 100 million VND (4,400 USD) for Ha Thi Hoa Tuoi, a girl in Son Giao hamlet, Ngoc Son commune, Hiep Hoa district, who is suffering cancer.

Many charity clubs were set up as well, including Dong Tam, Chua Thanh and Heart Connecting, who are proactively working to help needy people.

“Pavilion selling products from 0 VND” held in Le Loi ward, Bac Giang city, is among favored charity events. According to Nguyen Thi Thanh, Chairwoman of the ward People’s Committee, the event, initiated by Secretary of the ward’s Party Committee Nguyen Quang Ban, has drawn hundreds of people and many have come to study the model to carry out the same activity in their localities.

In recent years, a number of individuals have shouldered the responsibility to bring up disabled and orphan children like monk Thich Dam Luong of Dau Pagoda in Noi Hoang commune of Yen Dung district and Director of Phu Quy Charity Centre in Bac Giang city Khong Thi Thuy. Their kindness has helped children with disabilities and victims of Agent Orange improve living conditions.

Evaluating local charity activities, Tran Ba Thinh, Vice Chairman of the province’s Red Cross society said: “Charity activities should be respected and expanded. The creative and practical support of individuals and volunteer clubs has made significant contributions to carrying out social welfare policies as well as alleviating poverty”.

Thanh Hai