Liberation Saigon's Love - Part 2: Committing to the community

Reporter Quoc Hung gives support to families who suffered heavy losses due to storm Yagi (storm No. 3, 2024) in Hong Hai ward, Ha Long city, Quang Ninh province.

Resurrection after the storm

Previously, Yeu village was isolated on a high mountain in Ca Dang commune (Dong Giang district, Quang Nam province). In 2005, the local government mobilized and moved villagers to the confluence of the Vang and Con rivers in Dai Hung commune (Dai Loc district) to settle. In September 2006, storm No. 6 (storm Xangsane) hit, leaving the entire village devastated. After SGGP Newspaper published an article reflecting the situation, readers of the newspaper contributed more than 100 million VND to help villagers rebuild their houses and stabilize their lives. With the support of a number of other units, 35 new houses were built in time for Yeu villagers to celebrate the Dinh Hoi New Year 2007.

Returning to Yeu village, we saw that the village had changed significantly, every house had a motorbike, a television, and life had improved a lot. When he knew we were reporters from SGGP Newspaper, old man Dinh Phe (63 years old) immediately invited us into his house to chat. As soon as he reached the porch, old man Phe pointed to a sign that said "Given by SGGP Newspaper", and boasted that his family was one of the five households that SGGP Newspaper gave a house to after the storm that year. Old man Dinh Phe recalled: "At that time, we thought we would have to return to our old village because all our houses had collapsed. After hearing the government announce that SGGP Newspaper was calling on readers to donate money to build new houses, we were very happy!"

The historic flood in October 2020 submerged Tan Ninh commune (Quang Ninh district, Quang Binh province). Three houses of Tran Thi Thanh Thieu, Nguyen Thi Diem (in Huu Tan village), and Nguyen Thi Lieu (in The Loc village) were destroyed by flood waves. After SGGP reported this, readers went to this village and handed over more than 600 million VND to support 3 households to build new houses. Of which, Ms. Thieu's household received 300 million VND, Ms. Diem's ​​household received 200 million VND, and Ms. Lieu's household received 150 million VND. At the end of that year, all 3 houses were put into use.

When returning to the flood-prone area of ​​Tan Ninh, SGGP reporters were invited into the house by Ms. Lieu and she said: “That year I was 75 years old. The house collapsed, luckily SGGP Newspaper wrote an article, readers donated 150 million VND, and borrowed a little more to build a solid house. During the recent flood in 2024, luckily my family had a solid house so we didn't have to run away from the flood anymore. I will always remember this kindness of the people, until I die, I will tell my children and grandchildren to be grateful”. Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa, Chairman of Tan Ninh Commune People's Committee, said: “During the flood in 2020, SGGP Newspaper reported the earliest news about the local damage, so many benefactors promptly came to share, helping people in the commune to soon stabilize their lives and take care of production when the flood receded. In particular, SGGP Newspaper readers helped the "completely collapsed" houses to have new, solid and sturdy houses”.

Life turns a new page

To mobilize philanthropists to help those in dire and difficult circumstances, SGGP Newspaper opened a column called “Addresses in need of help”, later changed to “Circumstances in need of help”. Thanks to the help from readers, the lives of many families have turned a new page. Some have capital to do business, some have a stable home, some have bright eyes, healthy legs, and teenagers can continue to go to school.

Talking to SGGP Newspaper, Ms. YH Mup (Dak Ro Ong Commune, Tu Mo Rong District, Kon Tum Province) happily said that currently, her daughter Y Kieu Phuong's disabled legs have healed, she can walk without crutches. This is a great happiness for the family. "Thanks to the help of SGGP Newspaper, Y Kieu Phuong's legs are healthy. She can even go to school without crutches. It is a joy to see my daughter healthy like other children. My family is grateful to SGGP Newspaper and its readers," Ms. YH Mup expressed.

In Dak Coi commune, Kon Ray district, Kon Tum province, A Luong's four grandchildren have moved to a new house, no longer worrying about the house collapsing in the rain and wind. The house has a total area of ​​240 square meters, built with many sources, part of which is from support from SGGP Newspaper. Mr. Nguyen Van Thuy, Vice Chairman of Kon Ray District People's Committee, said that in addition to supporting part of the money to build the house, SGGP Newspaper also called on benefactors to help A Luong's family with a tractor worth 150 million VND. This is the "fishing rod" that helps A Luong have a livelihood to support his grandfather and 2 younger siblings.

In a solidly built house in Dien Dai village, Phu Xuan commune, Phu Vang district, Hue city, which SGGP reporters called on colleagues, readers and local authorities to join hands to support, Nguyen Nu Kieu Oanh told her three orphaned sisters, then packed her luggage and tied it on the back of her motorbike, moving to Da Nang city to continue her second year of studying English Language at Duy Tan University. Her father left, her mother committed suicide, Oanh had to be both an older sister and a mother to three young children. Sympathizing with Oanh's difficult situation, SGGP reporters proposed that the SGGP Editorial Board consider helping, and asked some colleagues and relatives to share SGGP's article on social networks to call for everyone to join hands to help.

After SGGP Newspaper published the article "Four orphans with an uncertain future" (issue dated July 10, 2023), many organizations and individuals directly visited and helped the children overcome difficulties. In addition to SGGP Newspaper's donation of 67 million VND, SGGP Newspaper reporters, colleagues and relatives connected with everyone to help the children with nearly 500 million VND - including cash, construction materials and many working days - to build a solid house for the children; set up savings accounts so that the children can continue their studies.

On June 12, 2023, SGGP Newspaper published an article “Mother and child live a precarious life at the foot of Gio Mountain” reflecting on the pitiful situation of Son Thi Duong and her child. Duong’s family is one of the poorest in Dom 2 village (Chau Phong commune, Quy Chau district, Nghe An province), and her mental health is not normal.

While wandering, she was seduced and gave birth to Son Van Nhan. Relatives and people in Dom 2 village joined hands to build a hut for the mother and child at the foot of Gio mountain using bamboo and palm leaves, but over time, the hut became dilapidated, wind blew from all sides, and rain leaked; every rainy and stormy season, the commune and village authorities had to evacuate the mother and child to a safe place. After SGGP Newspaper published the article, readers donated 20 million VND; the Quy Chau Charity - Event Organization Association raised 50 million VND, and Nghe An Sugarcane Company Limited donated 20 million VND.

From this amount of money, the authorities of Chau Phong commune and Dom 2 village mobilized people to voluntarily contribute working days to build a house of gratitude for Ms. Duong and her children, right next to the hut at the foot of Gio mountain. Upon learning of the information, Tan Phu Quy Chau Material Store (in Chau Hoi commune) supported floor tiles worth 5 million VND, some individuals in Vinh city and Tan Lac town (Quy Chau district) donated rice cookers, beds, tables and chairs, rice, instant noodles... Mr. Luong Van Hiep, Chairman of Chau Phong commune People's Committee, was moved to share: "This is truly a project of joining hands to protect the disadvantaged. Thank you SGGP Newspaper for your gesture".

In September 2024, storm No. 3 (Yagi) made landfall in the North of our country. Faced with the enormous damage caused by the storm, reporter Quoc Hung immediately flew to the eye of the storm in Quang Ninh to provide relief to the people while the storm's circulation was still raging. SGGP Newspaper also quickly launched a relief campaign to help the people in the North affected by the storm and floods. After only a short time, the amount of money raised, more than 11 billion VND, was directly provided by SGGP Newspaper, helping the people in the North stabilize their lives.

DUY CUONG - MINH PHONG - NGUYEN CUONG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nghia-tinh-sai-gon-giai-phong-bai-2-dan-than-vi-cong-dong-post793797.html