Learning from Uncle Ho is to love our compatriots.

With the motto of "good life, good religion", Hoa Hao Buddhist followers in An Giang province learn and follow Uncle Ho through charitable deeds, helping the poor, building houses, and taking care of village life.

Hoa Hao Buddhist followers in Vinh Thanh Trung commune participate in building a bridge. Photo: THANH TIEN

Learning from Uncle Ho to live for the community

Over the years, the people of Vinh Thanh Trung commune are no longer unfamiliar with the image of Hoa Hao Buddhist followers participating in social security activities in the locality. Representing the local followers, the Executive Committee of the Hoa Hao Buddhist Sangha of Vinh Thanh Trung commune actively coordinates with the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the commune to carry out many activities to care for the people such as: building new houses, repairing houses, supporting burials, donating blood voluntarily, supporting free ambulances, the "Bunch of rice of love" model, fire and natural disaster relief...

Head of the Executive Committee of the Hoa Hao Buddhist Sangha of Vinh Thanh Trung Commune, Trinh Van Mot, said: “Ho Chi Minh’s ideology and the teachings of Huynh Giao Chu both guide people to live morally, be useful to life and serve the Fatherland. Fully aware of that, Hoa Hao Buddhist followers constantly study and follow, contributing to the successful completion of religious programs. The followers always promote the spirit of national solidarity, religious solidarity, and jointly implement social security programs and develop the local economy and society.”

According to Mr. Trinh Van Mot, in the 2024 - 2029 term, the Executive Committee of the Hoa Hao Buddhist Sangha contributed to the fund for the poor and the spring tree fund to give gifts to 740 families to celebrate the spring and Tet; mobilized "Handful of love rice" to get 38 tons of rice to support poor households; participated in concreting some 15km long roads, with an implementation cost of 420 million VND...

“We have always received attention and favorable conditions from the Party Committee and the People's Committee of the commune, so our religious activities have achieved many results, building a close relationship between religion and the Party, the government and the people. We will continue to participate with the local government in building new rural areas, implementing "Smart Mass Mobilization" models, contributing to social security, considering this a practical work to learn and follow Uncle Ho, as well as the teachings of Huynh Giao Chu", Mr. Trinh Van Mot emphasized.

Leaders of My Duc commune visited and encouraged the charity house building team of the Hoa Hao Buddhist Sangha Executive Committee of the commune. Photo: THANH TIEN

Building shelters for poor households

Also in the spirit of connecting religion with life, Hoa Hao Buddhist followers in My Duc commune strive to build charity houses for households in difficult circumstances. Head of the Executive Committee of the Hoa Hao Buddhist Sangha in My Duc commune Mai Van Toan said: "Currently, the lives of the people in the commune have improved significantly, however, there are still some people living in difficult conditions and makeshift houses. Knowing the people's desire to have a warm roof to protect them from the rain and sun, we proposed that the People's Committee of the commune establish a model of "Charity House Building Group of the Executive Committee of the Hoa Hao Buddhist Sangha in My Duc commune", with the desire to help people have a stable place to live, work with peace of mind to escape poverty".

According to Mr. Mai Van Toan, when it was first established, the group had only 5 members, gradually increasing to 15 people as it is now. “Some people came from carpenters, bricklayers, some from farming, gardening, and some from enthusiastic participation became skilled. Notably, all members are old, the youngest is over 40, the oldest is over 60. Everyone comes from the wish to follow Uncle Ho's words of loving fellow countrymen, practicing the teachings of Huynh Giao Chu to repay fellow countrymen and humanity,” Mr. Mai Van Toan shared.

With a spirit of volunteerism, the charity house building group operates under the motto "those who have money contribute money, those who do not have money contribute labor". In the first years, the source of wood was purchased from households in and outside the commune. After that, the group mobilized benefactors to support, so the effectiveness of the activities increased. In addition to the amount of money raised, the group also mobilized households to support the cost so that the house would be of better quality and could be used for a long time.

With the support of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the commune, the charity house building team of the Hoa Hao Buddhist Sangha Executive Committee of My Duc commune coordinated to build 79 solidarity houses, each house costing 25-50 million VND, with a total cost of over 1 billion VND, helping households in difficult circumstances to settle down and gradually escape poverty. The team mobilized support for Tet gifts for poor households, free medical examination and treatment, disaster relief, fire, funeral support... with a total cost of over 3 billion VND in the 2024-2029 term.

“Based on the spirit of kindness and the desire to help others, the members of the charity house building group will continue to contribute to the development of My Duc. For us, each completed house for the poor is a joy, following the teachings of Uncle Ho and the principles of Huynh Giao Chu,” Mr. Mai Van Toan emphasized.

THANH TIEN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/hoc-bac-la-phai-yeu-thuong-dong-bao-a465932.html