Mrs. Loi devoted herself wholeheartedly to her village.

Ms. Le Thi Loi, residing in Hamlet 2, Vi Thanh 1 commune, stands on the bridge where she helped install railings, ensuring the safety of people crossing it.

Mrs. Loi was the widow of a fallen soldier, her husband having died in the Cambodian battlefield. At the time, she was only 21 years old, her firstborn son still an infant. It wasn't until 10 years later that she remarried. The couple worked in the village while also earning a living to support their four children, both from their previous marriage and hers.

Like many women in the rural area of Vi Thanh 1 commune, Mrs. Loi also worked in the fields, raised pigs, and raised her children with her husband. From having no land at all, thanks to her hard work, her family now owns nearly 30 acres of rice paddies. As life gradually stabilized and her children got married, she became even more determined to help others.

She began her volunteer work driven by concerns and anxieties in her neighborhood. “About four years ago, seeing that 13 households in the 6 Thước canal area of Hamlet 2 were having difficulty getting around due to the lack of a bridge, I volunteered to mobilize residents to contribute money to build a bridge, costing approximately 30 million VND. The joy from that first bridge motivated me to continue my volunteer work to this day,” Ms. Lời shared.

Over the past four years, Ms. Loi has personally funded and raised additional funds to build two bridges; and repair and maintain two rural roads, approximately 2km long, in Hamlet 2. She also donated funds to install iron railings on both sides of an unsafe bridge in Hamlet 3, Vi Thanh 1 commune.

Ms. Dang Thi Ha, residing in Hamlet 3, Vi Thanh 1 Commune, recounted: “Back then, people constantly fell into the river while crossing this bridge. Sometimes they were rescued in time, but other times their lives were in danger. Since Ms. Loi installed the railings, I've noticed a significant decrease in accidents, and people no longer have to live in constant fear like before.”

On average, Ms. Loi spends about 10 million VND annually on charitable work. Not only is she a pioneer in supporting the construction of bridges and the repair and maintenance of rural roads, but she also spends her own money and effort helping many disadvantaged people in the local area. For schools in the region, she spearheaded efforts to build canopies and raise schoolyards, helping teachers and students have better conditions for teaching and learning.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Long, Head of the Red Cross Branch in Hamlet 2, Vi Thanh 1 Commune, said: “Ms. Loi is a valuable asset and a companion to us in our local charitable work. For many years, she has contributed money and effort to help those in difficult circumstances. Thanks to her, transportation for the people here is much easier.”

“Currently, in Hamlet 2, there are still some dilapidated and flooded roads and bridges that have not been repaired, along with difficult circumstances that need help. This is my biggest concern, motivating me to continue dedicating myself to charitable work for the peace and well-being of the village,” Mrs. Loi shared.

Text and photos: DANG THU

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/ba-loi-het-long-vi-xom-lang-a196298.html