Ca Mau press connects with social welfare

“If it weren’t for the young people who came to film and report on this, I probably wouldn’t have had enough money to build a house even if I died. And I don’t know how my children would live in this dilapidated, leaky house.” That was a statement that touched my heart on the day I brought joy to the family of Mrs. Pham Thi Dinh, 74 years old, Hamlet 1/5, Khanh Binh Commune, Tran Van Thoi District.

Mrs. Dinh has three children. Her husband passed away when her youngest child was only five years old. This year, he is 35 and works on fishing boats to make a living – he is the "most normal" of her three children. The other two are over 40, but their mental health is unstable; sometimes they are lucid, other times they have episodes of screaming like children. In the house, besides her husband's altar and the bed, the most valuable thing is a faded Second Class Resistance Medal. Every day, Mrs. Dinh collects scrap metal, catches snails, and picks vegetables... earning a few tens of thousands of dong to pay for medicine and miscellaneous living expenses for herself and her three children.

After being contacted and connected with businesses and philanthropists by Ca Mau Provincial Radio and Television Station, Mrs. Dinh's family received a total of 62 million VND. Of this amount, 52 million VND was used to build a new house, and 10 million VND was opened as a savings account for emergencies such as illness.

Donating 62 million VND to the family of Ms. Pham Thi Dinh (a case featured in the documentary "Elderly Mother Raising a Mentally Ill Child" broadcast on Ca Mau Radio and Television). Photo: THANH HUY

Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, journalists like us are still writing stories of hardship but also kindness and goodness, touching millions of hearts.

Like the story of Luong Van Lan, a poor but unfortunate student, "Continuing the Dream." His parents divorced when he was young, and his mother abandoned him in the 6th grade to find her own happiness. To earn money for school and rent, Lan had to sell lottery tickets and work part-time. Despite the hardships, he was an excellent student for nine consecutive years, successfully passing the entrance exam to the 10th grade specialized physics class at Phan Ngoc Hien High School for the Gifted in Ca Mau City.

Within just a few hours of the article being published on the Ca Mau News page, Lan's inspiring story touched the hearts of philanthropists near and far, and people joined hands to give her numerous scholarships worth tens of millions of dong. Following this article, Nguyen Huynh Nhu, the producer of the "Journey of Dreams" program, contacted Lan to create a program, helping her take steps towards a brighter future.

Campaign to award a scholarship to Luong Van Lan, a student at Phan Ngoc Hien Specialized High School, Ca Mau City. Photo: HN

Behind the stories of hardship and poverty that we encounter in each of these situations, the unwavering will and determination to overcome adversity are what inspire admiration in us journalists.

Take the story of Mr. Nguyen Chi Nguyen's family in Hamlet 3, U Minh town, U Minh district. Mr. Nguyen once had many dreams, dreams of providing his children with a good education and building a decent house for his wife and children to live comfortably. But in 2016, he was diagnosed with multiple cystic meningioma and kidney tumors, which severely weakened his health. Since Mr. Nguyen's illness, all the hardships have fallen on the shoulders of his wife, Ms. Le Bich Thuy. She single-handedly supports her husband and provides for their son, Nguyen Dang Khoi's education. Faced with their difficult circumstances and the burden of illness, Ca Mau Radio and Television Station connected with and mobilized support, raising 50 million VND to help the family realize their dream of building a new house. In addition, benefactors also donated 15 million VND to Nguyen Dang Khoi as a scholarship and 22 million VND to help Mr. Nguyen with his medical treatment.

A donation of 50 million VND, provided by Ca Mau Lottery Company Limited, was given to the family of Mr. Nguyen Chi Nguyen, residing in Hamlet 3, U Minh town, to help them build a "Warm Home for the Needy." Photo: THANH HUY

There are still many, many difficult circumstances in the province that Ca Mau Radio and Television Station, as well as other Ca Mau media outlets, have supported and shared through charitable programs, articles published in print, and broadcasts on radio and television. Through these efforts, positive love and support have been spread and received from the community.

Currently, Ca Mau Radio and Television Station, in coordination with Ca Mau Lottery Company Limited, maintains the "Safe Home" program, providing 60 million VND per month to help poor families build new houses. Beyond just houses, the program also mobilizes philanthropists and domestic and international businesses to provide additional funding to help families earn a living, aiming for sustainable poverty reduction. The Youth Union of Ca Mau Radio and Television Station maintains the "Letter from a Friend to Help a Friend" and "Safe Ferry" programs to further motivate poor students to attend school.

Scholarship awarded to Le Thuy Muoi in Hamlet 6, Nguyen Phich Commune, U Minh District. Photo: THANH PHUC

One of the significant achievements in social welfare programs of Ca Mau Provincial Radio and Television Station is the "Aspiration for Life" program, which brought tears to the eyes of many viewers and revived the hope of life for 238 disadvantaged and impoverished families with a total amount of 19 billion VND. Building on these achievements in social welfare work, at the beginning of 2025, Ca Mau Provincial Radio and Television Station produced the "Safe Driving" program, a live radio broadcast and livestream on digital platforms. Each episode of the program will connect with and support a difficult traffic accident victim in need of assistance in the province. In the first three episodes, the total amount of money given to three families was over 70 million VND.

Over the years, the Ca Mau press has always considered the humanitarian aspect as a top priority, opening many sections on kindness, beautiful living, and social welfare activities. The "Bridge of Compassion" section in the Ca Mau newspaper has long been a bridge connecting the poor closer to their dreams, receiving assistance from philanthropists. Every year, the Ca Mau Newspaper's Trade Union organizes the "Spring of Love" program; connecting businesses and philanthropists to carry out many trips to the source, visiting and giving gifts to policy beneficiary families, poor households, and poor but studious students; connecting businesses to support playgrounds for children in remote areas... with a total budget of hundreds of millions of VND. The Vietnam Journalists Association of Ca Mau province pays attention to localities lacking in infrastructure; and families of those who have contributed to the revolution facing housing difficulties, connecting and mobilizing support for construction.

Inauguration of the "Warm Home for the Needy" and presentation of money and gifts to Mr. Nguyen Van Kiet's family, Hamlet 7, Nam Can town, Nam Can district. Photo: TIEN LEN

All these activities have had a positive impact on society, spreading widely and changing the destinies of many people and regions, and especially igniting the flames of compassion and kindness within the community.

“Not only have they performed well as a bridge for information, but for many years, press agencies and journalists in Ca Mau province have persistently participated in community charity activities, joining hands to connect with the community for social welfare. Many poor and sick people have received timely assistance thanks to the press, saving them from hardship and despair,” journalist Nguyen Thanh Dung, Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association of Ca Mau province, proudly stated.

In writing this article, we are not praising each other, but rather highlighting the role of journalists in modern society. Beyond providing information on culture, politics , and society, they also engage in charitable activities for the community. This affirms that journalism always plays a crucial role in social life, caring for and serving the people. Many journalists have quietly strived to do good behind the scenes, becoming a bridge connecting well-being and revitalizing development.

Journalist Trinh Hong Nhi

Source: https://baocamau.vn/bao-chi-ca-mau-noi-nhip-an-sinh-a39700.html