The Beautiful Story of Green Leaves

Driven by empathy and compassion for those facing hardship in life, a group of young people in Can Tho City established the Green Leaf Volunteer Club with the desire to continue writing the story of human kindness...

Le Tan Hieu (first row, third from the right) represents the club in receiving a Certificate of Merit from the Vietnam Youth Union. Photo: Contributor.

“Why did the club choose the name 'Green Leaf'?”, I began the conversation, and Le Tan Hieu, a multimedia communication student atFPT University Can Tho and the club's leader, shared that: When establishing the club, they considered many different names and chose 'Green Leaf' because it signifies youth as green leaves, wanting to dedicate their youthful energy to beautifying the world through useful actions. “Although it’s a small thing, within our means, we’re happy because we see that we’re doing something meaningful,” Le Tan Hieu said.

Le Tan Hieu shared that he has always been passionate about volunteering and social work since he was a student. He was a collaborator with the Can Tho City Youth Union and participated in various charitable groups. After the COVID-19 pandemic, Hieu witnessed many difficult situations that needed help, so he and two close friends, Nguyen Ky Phuc and Phan Cong Danh, founded the Green Leaf Volunteer Club in 2021. The group's first job was to organize and provide free meals to street workers at night, homeless people, and the destitute. Sometimes it was just over a dozen meals, sometimes the number increased depending on the situation each time they organized the fundraising, but the young people all felt happy and dedicated.

Besides appealing to and soliciting donations from benefactors, the Green Leaf Charity Club also has many ways to generate "funding," such as selling food and drinks to buy gifts for the needy. Or they hold "special markets" where vendors bring used clothes, items, or batteries to exchange for gifts, sometimes succulents, sometimes small keychains... This method contributes to environmental protection, and the collected clothes and items are cleaned, sorted, and given to those in need.

Now, the group's main activity is bringing joy to students in schools. Last weekend, the Green Leaf Charity Club held a fun activity and gave gifts at Thanh Hoa 2 Primary School in Phung Hiep District, Hau Giang Province. The group gave gifts to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, organized fun activities, and provided small gifts for all students. “The club has organized similar activities at most schools in Thanh Hoa commune, Phung Hiep district, sometimes even making toys for the children and helping to improve the school grounds…,” added Le Tan Hieu. The funding for each program ranges from 10-30 million VND, from social mobilization sources. Each time, the club attracts a large number of students and pupils from Can Tho City to participate, contributing money and effort. Looking at the list that Le Tan Hieu provided, we were truly impressed by the contributions of 30,000 VND, 50,000 VND, etc., and felt even more deeply the meaning of the sayings "a little goes a long way" and "sharing with a common heart."

The stories of the group members are also very interesting. For example, Le Tan Hieu, not only he himself but also his parents are passionate about volunteer work. His parents often remind him to balance his studies and club activities, but they also frequently support and encourage him. Similarly, Dinh Thi Cam Tu, having experienced a deprived childhood, understands and wants to do many things to help students in difficult circumstances. Tu has been involved with the club for many years, and when the club carries out programs at school, not only disadvantaged students but all students get to have fun and receive gifts…

Four years of the Green Leaf journey have been filled with acts of giving love and sending hope. Le Tan Hieu added that the club has just prepared 25 gift packages, each worth 500,000 VND, to support the An Khanh Ward Youth Union in Ninh Kieu District in carrying out social welfare programs. The Green Leaf Charity Club is currently part of the National Volunteer Network and continues to nurture many meaningful activities for the community. In 2023, the Vietnam Youth Union awarded the Green Leaf Charity Club a Certificate of Merit for its outstanding achievements in volunteer activities for the community.

The story of Green Leaf reminds us of a few lines from the poem "A Spring Song" by the poet To Huu:

"If it were a bird, a leaf"

Then the bird must sing, the leaf must be green.

Is it possible to borrow and not repay?

"Life is about giving, not just receiving for oneself."

DUY KHOI

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/chuyen-dep-la-xanh-a184539.html