Spreading the spirit of humanity in Humanitarian Month 2025

Nguyen Hai Anh, Vice President, Secretary General, and Head of Operations of the Vietnam Red Cross Central Committee , shared his thoughts with a reporter from Hanoi Moi Newspaper about this meaningful "Humanitarian Journey - Spreading Love."

Vice President, Secretary General, and Head of Operations of the Vietnam Red Cross Central Committee, Nguyen Hai Anh. Photo: Thu Hien

Join hands to build a compassionate community

- Could you share some of the highlights of the 2025 Humanitarian Month?

- The Humanitarian Month is an activity that the Vietnam Red Cross Central Committee has been piloting since 2018, following the policy of the Central Party Secretariat, and in 2021, the Central Party Secretariat officially authorized May of each year to be designated as the peak month for implementing humanitarian activities.

The Humanitarian Month of 2025 is particularly significant because its activities are linked to the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and the reunification of the country, and especially the 135th anniversary of the birth of President Ho Chi Minh - the founder and first honorary president of the Vietnam Red Cross Society.

With the theme "Humanitarian Journey - Spreading Love," the 2025 Humanitarian Month is not just a series of Red Cross activities, but also a journey connecting compassionate hearts, igniting love through the simplest acts of kindness. There, every heart, every gesture, every action, no matter how small, can contribute to making a big difference in the lives of those in need. Peak activities will be concentrated from May 8th (International Red Cross and Red Crescent Day) to May 19th (the birthday of President Ho Chi Minh).

Through this series of activities, the Vietnam Red Cross Society aims to widely disseminate humanitarian values and the "Good People, Good Deeds - Working Together to Build a Compassionate Community" movement among all segments of the population. Simultaneously, Red Cross societies at all levels are strengthening their efforts to mobilize resources and build funds for humanitarian aid activities throughout the year, particularly by implementing a sustainable, high-impact support program for vulnerable groups in the community.

Timely recognition and encouragement should be given to individuals and groups who excel in humanitarian work and spread compassion. Photo: Hien Dung

- Sir, the Central Committee of the Association has set a target of mobilizing 400 billion VND in resources during the Humanitarian Month in 2025. How do you assess the chances of realizing this goal and contributing to proactively and readily meeting humanitarian aid needs this year?

- In carrying out the regular task of disseminating information, raising awareness, and promoting responsibility regarding humanitarian work and the role of the Vietnam Red Cross Society, the appendix attached to Decision 895/QD-TTg of 2023 identified the leading role of the Vietnam Red Cross Society, with coordinating agencies including ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities. In fact, during the Humanitarian Month of 2024, the entire Society mobilized resources to carry out humanitarian activities worth over 763 billion VND, assisting over 1.6 million poor and disadvantaged people. This year, I believe that if each of us is clearly aware of our responsibilities, joins hands in sharing, and builds a compassionate community, the resource mobilization efforts can completely exceed the set targets.

Heartwarming and thoughtful gifts of support. Photo: Hien Dung.

Scaling up sustainable livelihood support models.

- Sir, what will be the form and content of the activities in response to Humanitarian Month?

- With the goal of creating a strong shift in awareness among Party committees, authorities, organizations, and individuals regarding humanitarian work, and fostering a widespread movement of mutual support and compassion in the community, the Vietnam Red Cross Central Committee is implementing a series of activities in diverse forms, reaching a wide range of people in the community.

This is the "Million Steps of Compassion - Continuing the Golden Chapter" campaign, implemented on the vRace online sports platform, which has attracted nearly 200,000 participants, conquered over 5.6 million km, and raised 5.62 billion VND to carry out humanitarian activities and assist people in difficult circumstances nationwide.

This is the "Supporting 100,000 Humanitarian Addresses" campaign, with diverse activities: Organizing incense offerings and visits to 500 martyrs' cemeteries and revolutionary historical sites; visiting and giving gifts to families of Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, martyrs' families, wounded soldiers, veterans, and former youth volunteers in difficult circumstances. Along with that, 50 programs were organized to provide medical examinations, health consultations, distribute medicine, and give gifts, with each program serving 300 to 500 people.

Specifically, the Association supports the construction of 500 Red Cross houses (with a budget of 50 million VND per house); provides livelihood support to 500 poor and disadvantaged families (with a budget of 15 million VND per household); and supports the construction/renovation of kitchens, clean water, and bookshelves for 50 disadvantaged schools (with a budget of 300 million VND per school). Also during Humanitarian Month, we will encourage 5,000 people to register to donate tissues and organs to spread the spirit of "giving is forever."

The joy of spreading kindness to a large number of people. Photo: Hien Dung.

- The Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society will In coordination with the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, we will be organizing the National Launch Ceremony for the 2025 Humanitarian Month on May 8th at the Youth Cultural Center (Ho Chi Minh City). How are the preparations for this event progressing at this point, sir?

- Leading up to the Launch Ceremony is a series of peak activities in the three provinces of Quang Tri, Dak Lak, and Dong Thap, taking place from May 5th to May 6th with many meaningful events. Among them, the aim is to... In gratitude to the previous generations for their humanitarian work and projects in historically significant areas, the Association will organize visits and gift-giving to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, families of martyrs, families of veterans, and former youth volunteers facing difficult circumstances.

In line with our policy of expanding sustainable livelihood support models, we continue to support the construction of Red Cross houses, valued at a minimum of 50 million VND per house; provide livelihood support to poor households and households in difficult circumstances, valued at 10 to 15 million VND per household; and support the construction/renovation of school canteens, valued at 300 million VND per new canteen and 150 million VND per renovated canteen.

In addition, the organization provides support for clean water and school bookshelves for disadvantaged schools. Specifically, the Red Cross will organize a Humanitarian Market (Zero-Cost Market) for approximately 1,500 beneficiary households (each beneficiary household will receive a shopping voucher worth 500,000 VND). Simultaneously, it will provide free consultations, medical examinations, and medication to over 2,900 people in difficult circumstances.

Mr. Nguyen Hai Anh shared information with the media about the implementation of the 2025 Humanitarian Month. Photo: Thu Hien

- What challenges will the Vietnam Red Cross have to overcome in order to replicate sustainable livelihood models, sir?

- For sustainability, we need long-term support from businesses, communities, and social organizations. The major difficulty currently is the procedural obstacles in mobilizing international resources, causing delays in receiving and deploying resources. Therefore, improving policies and removing administrative procedures is essential to further promote international participation in humanitarian work in Vietnam. To be able to replicate sustainable livelihood models, expand the network of sharing, connect communities, and provide timely support to those in difficult circumstances, the Vietnam Red Cross must continue to professionalize its operations, enhance transparency in the management of charitable activities, affirm its reputation, and spread trust.

Thank you very much for taking the time to talk with me.

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The core value and meaning of Humanitarian Month is not just about providing assistance, but also about inspiring and building compassionate and humane communities. We hope that during this peak period, the spirit of sharing and beautiful stories from real people and real actions in daily life, especially the message "Everyone can become a humanitarian volunteer through acts of kindness every day," will continue to spread.
Humanitarian Month 2025 will be a journey of love multiplied from the simplest things."
Vice President, Secretary General, and Head of Operations of the Vietnam Red Cross Central Committee, Nguyen Hai Anh

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/lan-toa-tinh-than-nhan-ai-trong-thang-nhan-dao-nam-2025-700960.html