Connecting Love: Program to spread love to everyone

16 years working at Ninh Thuan Radio and Television Station (now Ninh Thuan Radio and Television Newspaper and Station), for the same amount of time I was assigned to be a news reporter. I was assigned by the leadership to be in charge of many programs, from news, reports, talks, exchanges, ethnic language programs... each field has its own advantages and difficulties, but I always try my best to complete each task and there are programs that have become the brand of Ninh Thuan Radio and Television Station, that is the program "One address a week", later the program "Connecting love". This program has connected golden hearts, philanthropists to share difficulties, light up hope for unfortunate lives, help them reduce difficulties and rise up in life. Over the years of implementing the program, I have had many different emotions. I have shared the joy of those who have shared their difficulties and sometimes shed tears when facing unfortunate situations. All of this has left me with many unforgettable memories.

Being assigned to be in charge of the program “One address a week” in 2014, I was both happy and worried. Happy because I could do the job I loved, worried because I was afraid that I could not connect the volunteer group and philanthropists with the unfortunate lives. However, with the social awareness and responsibility of a journalist, I tried my best and was always fair and objective, finding the right address to help.

Philanthropists of the program "Connecting Love" give gifts to poor families in Phuoc Huu commune (Ninh Phuoc).

Late one afternoon, I and the crew of the program "One address per week" went to neighborhood 10, Phuoc My ward (Phan Rang - Thap Cham city) to learn about the circumstances of two children, Bui Ngo Thao Oanh and Bui Ngo Yen Khoa. They used to have a happy family with a father who was a doctor and a mother who was a dance teacher. However, disaster struck when their father unfortunately suffered a stroke and died suddenly; their mother was so sad that she suffered from severe depression, the family sold the house to pay for treatment but her illness did not improve. After their father passed away, the house was sold, and the two children and their mother had to depend on their elderly grandparents. Looking at their pretty, gentle faces, always trying hard in studying as well as helping with housework to ease the burden on their grandparents, I felt so sorry for the two children, so I tried to call on volunteer groups and benefactors to help the two children with 51.7 million VND. In addition, I also connected and introduced a business that awarded a scholarship of 10 million VND/year to the two children. Every time I received a text message reporting their academic achievements or sincere thanks from the two children, I was very happy because I had contributed a part of my efforts to help them have the conditions to treat their mother's illness and go to school to fulfill their dreams and ambitions.

Over the past 10 years, the program “One address per week” has helped more than 500 people in difficult circumstances, with serious illnesses, and orphans, with nearly 15 billion VND. Most of the circumstances after being helped have reduced their difficulties, have the conditions to treat their illnesses, and gradually stabilize their lives.

In March 2024, Ninh Thuan Radio and Television Station continued to open a new program "Connecting Love" to replace the program "One Address Every Week". Although the program changed its name and presentation method, its purpose and meaning are still "a bridge" connecting units, businesses, volunteer groups and philanthropists to join hands to share and help the poor overcome difficulties and illnesses. After more than a year on air, the program "Connecting Love" has provided timely support and effective assistance to more than 30 difficult and sick circumstances, with an amount of nearly 1.5 billion VND.

In addition to being in charge of the program “One address per week”, now the program “Connecting love”, I was also assigned to coordinate with Nhat Advertising Joint Stock Company to implement the program “Aspiration to live”. With the criterion of “connecting the community to help the poor revive”, over the past 9 years, I and the program “Aspiration to live” have mobilized volunteer groups and philanthropists to help nearly 80 extremely difficult circumstances in the province, with a total support amount of nearly 8 billion VND.

The family of Ms. Bao Thi Trang, in Van Lam 4 village, Phuoc Nam commune (Thuan Nam) consists of 8 siblings, but 5 of them are deaf and mute. Ms. Trang is lucky not to be born deaf and mute, but since she was a child, she lived with her siblings, so she was shy and timid. Because her family was poor, Ms. Trang's parents took her to Quan The village and asked to be hired to herd sheep for a farm near the foot of the mountain. Because she was shy and illiterate, when she got married, Ms. Trang continued to follow her parents' footsteps as a hired sheep herder. With an income of about 12 million VND/year, the couple had to take care of their elderly parents, 5 deaf and mute sisters, 2 children and 2 grandchildren. The whole family of 13 people lived in a hot, corrugated iron shack that the farm owner had temporarily built next to the sheep pen. The image of the whole family gathering together to eat rice with salt and dried fish is something I will never forget. Admiring the sacrifices and efforts of Ms. Trang and her husband, the program “Thirst for Life” and I called on volunteer groups and benefactors to support 100 million VND. Despite the difficulties and hardships but imbued with the love of the family, the farm owner also supported Ms. Trang to build a house, helping the family have a stable “place to eat and live”. Ms. Trang’s life has turned a new page, the children have grown up, have received a good education and have stable jobs.

I always keep in mind: Charity programs are like a stream, how to keep that stream flowing continuously to help people, help life. Therefore, for over 10 years, I have tried to go to many rural areas, overcoming the sun and wind to learn and share difficulties with unfortunate lives. Thanks to transparency, clarity and working with all my heart, the charity programs that I am in charge of have spread more and more strongly to many organizations, businesses, volunteer groups and philanthropists, so that more and more people in difficult circumstances, poor patients, orphans have the opportunity to be examined and treated, to go to school. Seeing the bright smiles and even tears of happiness of the less fortunate when receiving sharing from the community, gives me more motivation to travel more, write more and vow to continue to be a "bridge" to contribute to spreading love to everyone.

Autumn Dream

Source: https://baoninhthuan.com.vn/news/153635p1c30/ket-noi-nhung-yeu-thuong-chuong-trinh-lan-toa-yeu-thuong-den-voi-moi-nguoi.htm