The young man behind the idea of a 'membership fee' supports Cuba.

TP - In recent days, many large groups on social media have unexpectedly announced "membership fees," attracting significant public attention. Behind these announcements is a creative form of communication to call on the community to join hands in supporting the fraternal Cuban people.

Báo Tiền Phong•22/08/2025

Reportedly, one of the pioneers behind this movement is Nguyen Trung Kien (30 years old, Yen Hoa Ward, Hanoi ), administrator of 13 online communities with a total of over one million members. Kien initiated a unique yet effective fundraising campaign, attracting thousands of participants and contributing to the strong spread of the spirit of mutual support and compassion.

Nguyen Trung Kien, who manages 13 large communities with over 1 million members, is calling for support for Cuba.

“I myself donated 1.2 million VND to Cuba. But thinking about it, that amount is still too small compared to the actual needs. While I manage 13 communities with over a million members, why not leverage that resource to create greater strength? That's why I thought of 'charging membership fees' as a way to attract attention and encourage people to contribute,” Kien shared.

“Initially, I was very scared. I had never called for a fee before, so I was worried about being misunderstood or misinterpreted. Some people might think badly of me or say I was profiting. But then I asked myself: if I don't do it, maybe there are many people who want to help Cuba but don't know how, or don't have anyone with enough credibility to stand up and call for help? If I remain silent out of fear, the community will lose the opportunity to spread positivity.” – Nguyen Trung Kien

Just hours after the announcement, thousands of members enthusiastically responded. Many even jokingly declared they would "pay the fee for 100 years in advance," transferring one million dong, or even "500 years" with amounts up to 5 million dong.

“My feelings at that time were overwhelming pride. I was just a small individual, but when standing together with the community, my meaning became immense. I didn't expect the members to be so united, sharing their feelings for Cuba, a friend who stood shoulder to shoulder with Vietnam during difficult times. It was truly surprising and heartwarming to see people willing to do such a great thing,” Kien shared emotionally.

According to Kien, the strength of the Vietnamese online community this time is not accidental: “In the hearts of Vietnamese people, there is already love and solidarity. When we mention Cuba, everyone understands that it is not just a distant country, but also a friend who was once ready to sacrifice for Vietnam. Transferring money through the Central Committee of the Red Cross, with the content clearly stating “CUBA”, makes everyone feel that they are directly contributing to that brotherly bond.”

He said that, of course, there were some questions about why a "fee" was being charged. But what was commendable was that, without him having to speak up, hundreds of other members automatically explained, defended, and spread the true meaning of the campaign: "It is this solidarity that makes me even more convinced that the Vietnam-Cuba bond still burns brightly in the hearts of many people."

Message of responsibility

Beyond just a social media charity campaign, Kien hopes to send a larger message to Vietnamese youth: love of history and a sense of community responsibility. "Recently, I've read and watched a lot of historical documents. Partly because of the upcoming National Day on September 2nd, and partly because I realize that history is the most important part of every person's life. Forgetting history means losing the country. I hope young people will learn more, love their national history more, and respect the sacrifices of their ancestors. From there, they can develop patriotism and strongly defend the homeland and justice," he shared.

Regarding Cuba, he believes it's a profound lesson about international brotherhood: "They endured decades of embargoes for Vietnam. They helped us with their blood. Never forget that contribution. That friendship is an invaluable asset that the younger generation needs to cherish and continue."

Reportedly, after 6 days of launching the "65 Years of Vietnam-Cuba Friendship" program, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society has recorded 1.75 million contributions, with a total amount of donations reaching over 344 billion VND (as of 3:30 PM on August 19, 2025). This result is nearly five times higher than the initial target of 65 billion VND. The fundraising campaign for Cuba will continue until October 16, 2025.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/chang-trai-dung-sau-y-tuong-thu-phi-thanh-vien-ung-ho-cuba-post1771343.tpo