Compassion inside Red Cross houses

Holding the house transferring decision in hands, Ms. Lam Thi Hong Nhung, who was born 1980 in Tan Duc hamlet, Minh Tan commune, Dau Tieng district, could not curb her emotions. She said in a voice choked with emotions: “The house is the dream of my family. There is a place to settle, we can establish ourselves”.

Dreams come true

According to provincial Red Cross’s Chairwoman Tran Thi Lien, Red Cross houses presented to the poor were not only material supports but also sympathetic sentiments from Red Cross units for disadvantaged people to overcome difficulties and establish themselves.

Lam Thi Hong Nhung and her family is a poor household in Minh Tan commune. Poverty came from her deceased husband’s heart disease. She has to bring up 4 kids and take care of her mother. Due to deprived living, she was not able to restore her degraded house. Therefore, provincial Red Cross and local government mobilized VND30 million to support her house rebuilding. She confided with tears: “My family has no land. I am just a worker classifying nylon bags with a monthly income of VND3 million. Now we has a steady house, I will work harder to let my children go to school and have a better future”.

Benefactors of provincial Red Cross presented Red Cross house to Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Hoa in Lai Thieu ward, Thuan An town.

It was like a dream to Mr. Cao Nhat Truong, who was born in 1979 and lives at Dong Nhi quarter, Lai Thieu ward, Thuan An town, when living in a new house. He has been both father and mother to his 4 children, so he he did not dare to dream of a building their own house. Lai Thieu ward Red Cross mobilized VND50 million from philanthropists plus he borrowed himself VND15 million to build a new house. "Without attentions from Red Cross units and local government, I do not know until when my family could have our own house”, said Mr. Truong. 

Finding the right subjects

Houses presented by provincial Red Cross units have actually brought practical meanings to make poor persons’ dreams come true. In order for the "mutual love" to find right subjects, Ms. Tran Thi Lien said, in 2014, provincial Red Cross units offered 36 Red Cross houses to poor families with total value of VND30-60 million/house. Implementing the campaign "Every organization and every individual associates with a humanitarian address ", based on mobilized money amount, units chose really needy subjects having demand for housing. In addition, depending on each specific case, Red Cross units gave gifts on big holidays, granted loans to these subjects for family economic development.

The poor, victims of Agent Orange also received gifts from Red Cross units. Up to 2-1-2015, provincial Red Cross units has mobilized more than 13,100 gifts for disadvantaged people, responding to the movement "Tet for the poor and victims of Agent Orange" in 2015. Each gift cost VND300.000- 500,000, total cost was nearly VND11 billion. Dau Tieng district Red Cross’s Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Sau said, mobilization works was not easy when the economic situation was still in difficulty. But it was fortunately that the unit has been sponsored by enthusiastic members of Volunteers Club”.

Reported by T.Ly – Translated by Ngoc Huynh