Heartwarming stories of kindness

Humanitarian Month 2024 runs from May 1st to 31st. Leading up to this peak month for humanitarian and charitable activities, Red Cross branches at all levels, as well as organizations and individuals with generous hearts, have been actively implementing practical activities aimed at the community.

The family of Mr. Nguyen Van Cong, born in 1974, and his wife, Pham Thi Thuy, born in 1972, belongs to a poor household in Xuan Ang Ngoai village, Ninh Xuan commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province. Mr. Cong and Ms. Thuy's family circumstances are extremely difficult. Mr. Cong is blind in both eyes. Ms. Thuy bears the responsibility of being the main breadwinner , supporting her paralyzed mother-in-law, her blind husband, and two school-aged children.

Despite the hardships of life, Thuy found complete happiness in the love and trust of her husband and the diligence and academic excellence of her two children. This simple happiness motivated her to overcome difficulties, work hard to provide for her family, and ensure her children received an education. However, in August 2023, Thuy unfortunately fell and broke a bone on her way home from work, requiring a long period in a cast. After recovering, she continued working to support her family, but unexpected misfortunes struck again. Thuy fell and broke a bone a second time, requiring hospitalization for surgery and a cast. The doctor also informed her that she had osteoporosis. Her already difficult situation became even more dire, as the family's breadwinner was bedridden and unable to provide for her family.

In this extraordinary situation, the Provincial Red Cross Society and members of the Ninh Binh Green Youth Club shared the story and called on everyone to participate. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Linh, Head of the Ninh Binh Green Youth Club, said: "The sad story of Ms. Thuy and Mr. Cong's family spread widely through many channels connected by the club members. After a short time of appeals, many people from the Hanoi Cheo Theater, the Ninh Binh Cheo Theater, charitable groups, philanthropists from Ninh Binh living in Vung Tau and Hanoi, and kind-hearted people in the province... contributed to create resources to support Mr. Cong's family. On May 7th, we collaborated with the Provincial Red Cross Society to visit and deliver gifts from benefactors directly to Mr. Cong's family. We hope that this money will help alleviate some of the difficulties the family is facing during this time."

Holding the money from the generous donors, Ms. Thuy suppressed her emotions: "I am very grateful for the companionship and support of the benefactors for my family. These meetings, encouragement, and generous gifts will help me have more resources for treatment. My only wish is for my health to recover quickly so I can go home, continue to earn a living, and provide for my family and my children's education. My whole family needs me very much."

Emergency relief and humanitarian assistance have been key and exemplary activities of the Red Cross at all levels in recent times. Through propaganda and networking, emergency relief and humanitarian assistance activities have received the attention and support of many charitable clubs and philanthropists. This has collectively created resources to support disadvantaged cases in the province through movements such as: "Tet of Compassion"; the campaign "Each organization, each individual linked to a humanitarian cause"; the program "Giving gifts at the beginning of spring - Multiplying happiness", "Giving gifts to the sick - Welcoming the new year together"; "Community strength - Reviving life"... In the first quarter of 2024 alone, the total value of emergency relief and humanitarian assistance activities reached nearly 7 billion VND, helping over 18,000 disadvantaged people in the province, contributing to ensuring social security.

Continuing those meaningful activities, during the Humanitarian Month of 2024 (from May 1-31), Red Cross branches at all levels, organizations, and individuals actively implemented many meaningful activities aimed at vulnerable people, such as: giving gifts, awarding scholarships, donating milk to poor children; maintaining regular support for humanitarian addresses, organizing free meals for the sick; supporting the construction and repair of "Red Cross" housing, etc.

Mr. Bui Trong Ky, Chairman of the Provincial Red Cross Society, said: Faced with many particularly difficult circumstances, the Provincial Red Cross Society has written articles for publication in newspapers such as Tien Phong, Dan Tri, Ninh Binh Newspaper, the Central Red Cross Society's online newspaper, the Provincial Red Cross Society, the Humanitarian Magazine, Humanitarian Television... and social media platforms to mobilize resources for support.

There have been many heartwarming stories, like fairy tales, in real life, where many terminally ill patients have been given a new lease on life thanks to the help, support, and love of the community. A prime example is the timely support provided to Nguyen Gia Long, a child from Yen Lam commune (Yen Mo district) suffering from a terminal illness, with over 500 million VND allocated for his treatment. Currently, Gia Long's health has recovered well. Other notable relief efforts included providing over 800 million VND to four orphaned children in Yen Dong commune (Yen Mo district) to enable them to continue their education; supporting Ms. Phuong and her children in Ninh My commune (Hoa Lu district) with over 50 million VND for house repairs; and many other exemplary emergency relief activities. In 2023 alone, the various levels of the Association mobilized nearly 27 billion VND, supporting over 55,000 individuals in extremely difficult circumstances throughout the province.

Text and photos: Dao Hang

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