The "way home" is no longer bumpy

QTO - Returning to their homeland after being tricked and sold across the border or being deported from their home country due to illegal immigration on their journey to make a living, many people are left with mental trauma and economic difficulties. However, thanks to the support from the project "Fighting against human trafficking and modern slavery phase 3" sponsored by World Vision International (WVI), they have overcome their complexes and strived to integrate into the community.

Unstable return day

After many ups and downs in life, the memories of the years living in a foreign land in Mrs. Le Thi Thuy (58 years old, residential group 4 Phu Vinh, Dong Son ward) also became blurred. Mr. Le Xuan Hoa, Mrs. Thuy's brother, said: In 2003, my sister and nephew went missing and it was not until 2022 that the family found them. Through investigation, it was learned that the mother and son were tricked into going to China. Mrs. Thuy was sold to a man 2 years younger, living in seclusion in a rural area of ​​Guangdong province. For 19 years, she only stayed at home cooking and doing housework until the Chinese authorities checked her papers and found that she did not meet the residency requirements, so she was forced to return to Vietnam. When she returned, she was old, her health declined, and her spirit was damaged, so Mrs. Thuy could only rely on the help of relatives.

Deputy Director of the Department of Health Ho Tan Canh visited the models supported by the project - Photo: HL

Unlike Ms. Thuy, Mr. Pham Tien Thanh (42 years old), in Dong Duc village, Dong Trach commune, proactively went abroad to find work, hoping to raise capital to develop his family's economy . However, he was deceived and stuck in a third country. Living illegally, finding work difficult, and having no income, after 10 months of wandering, in 2017, he decided to return home.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Muoi (resident group 5, Dong Son ward) also worked illegally in Russia for 10 years and returned empty-handed when she was deported. “I went illegally, without papers so it was more difficult to work. The amount I sent home every month was only enough to support my children. When I returned home, my husband and I were both old and had no qualifications so it was very difficult to find a job. At that time, I felt very uncertain,” Ms. Muoi shared.

When faith is fueled

To earn money to support her three school-age children, Ms. Muoi worked from place to place. In 2024, when she learned about the program "Supporting reintegration packages for trafficked people and vulnerable migrants", she registered but secretly thought it would be difficult to get in, because there were many people in the same situation as her. Ms. Muoi recounted: "We were invited to training and taken to visit models. After that, the project staff asked us to develop a plan and model for family economic development. The plan must clearly state the wishes, development direction, implementation costs as well as anticipate risks during implementation. Unexpectedly, the laundry model that my husband and I proposed was selected and we were supported with 2 washing machines and 1 dryer worth 85 million VND."

More than 1,000 blanket washing orders in the first season, along with orders from tourists, have given her confidence and motivation. The Than Thien laundry facility she owns has created stable jobs with an average income of 3-5 million VND/month. Especially, since she has a new job and no longer has to work for hire, Ms. Muoi has been able to take care of her mother-in-law who has had a stroke and has been bedridden for the past 5-6 years.

The laundry model helps Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Muoi have a stable job - Photo: HL

As for Mr. Pham Tien Thanh, the couple decided to open a facility to produce spring rolls, sausages and snacks to serve the market in Bo Trach district (old). With the support of the project and investment in additional machinery and equipment, the couple expanded their production scale, the model yielding a monthly profit of about 15-20 million VND. Mr. Thanh confided: “If I were young, I would still go to work abroad but would do it legally, with a better income for the future and safety. But at my age now, starting a business in my hometown is still the most suitable.”

Mr. Le Xuan Hoa, the brother of Ms. Le Thi Thuy - the victim of being sold to China, emotionally shared: Thank you to the project for providing a livelihood support package for the farming and livestock model, worth 50 million VND for my sister. Now Thuy has overcome the trauma, is happier and has a job, can support herself from the guava garden and raising chickens.

Accompanying the vulnerable

The component “Supporting reintegration packages for trafficked persons and vulnerable migrants” under the project “Fighting against human trafficking and modern slavery phase 3” in the old Quang Binh area has a capital of 122,307 USD, equivalent to more than 2.8 billion VND, sponsored by World Vision International (WVI).

In the process of implementing support activities, WVI, with the coordination of the International Organization for Migration, has coordinated with other organizations such as Hagar International, the Center for Women and Development Support, to jointly approach, screen, assess, refer and support repatriated migrants.

“Provincial departments, branches, sectors, unions and People's Committees of communes and wards with beneficiaries need to continue to maintain, support and create conditions for 147 models to develop sustainably. At the same time, closely monitor and supervise the models, connect resources of national target programs to create conditions for workers to expand production scale, continue to build and replicate successful models... In addition, it is necessary to promote the role and responsibility of all levels, sectors, families, communities and the whole society in communicating about preventing and combating human trafficking", Deputy Director of the Department of Health, Head of the Project Management Board in Quang Tri province Ho Tan Canh emphasized.

Ms. Duong Thi Thuong, Deputy Head of the Department of Social Protection - Children and Prevention of Social Evils under the Department of Health; Secretary, Provincial Project Coordinator said: In the period of 2023-2025, the project has supported 147 workers in the area through training activities, providing livelihood support packages, technical support in business development to help beneficiaries stabilize their lives and reintegrate into the community. Based on the needs and capabilities of workers, suitable to natural conditions, taking advantage of existing local resources, multi-industry economic models were born, such as: Cultivation, animal husbandry; mechanics; production facilities; food services, laundry, photocopying... The good news is that 90% of the implemented models are effective.

With the timely attention and support from the project, the “vulnerable” people have gradually stabilized, regained confidence and motivation. Their “way back” is therefore no longer too shaky, but has opened up hope for a new, more stable life in their own homeland.

Huong Le

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202509/duong-ve-khong-con-chong-chenh-a9b549f/