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Dream...come true
In the pouring rain of an early summer afternoon, following Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh, President of the Women's Union of Tan Dan Ward (Kinh Mon), we visited the newly renovated house of Mr. Le Van Khoan (83 years old) and Mrs. Bui Thi Luot (77 years old) in Kim Dong residential area.
"Because of their old age, inability to work and not living with their children, Mr. Khoan's family is considered a poor household in the ward. Before, when it rained heavily and the wind was strong, the elderly had to stay at their children's house. Water from the high mountains flowed down like a stream. After Typhoon Yagi , the roof was full of holes, the walls were crooked, and there were days when the wind was so strong that it seemed like the whole small house would fly away," said Ms. Thanh.
The house, still smelling of lime and mortar, nestled halfway up Cuc Tien Mountain, stands out among the green of the forest. The slippery slope that used to lead to Mr. Khoan’s house has been replaced by a concrete road that is easier to walk on. In the cool air of a rainy day, the house stands out like a bright spot among the hills.
Mr. Khoan slowly pulled out a chair to invite his guests, a gentle smile reflected on his wrinkled old face. "I thought I would still have to live in a dilapidated house when I was old, but now the government cares and supports us to repair this beautiful old house. My wife and I are very happy, we sleep better, we are no longer afraid of the rain and wind. Our health is also better than before," Mr. Khoan said, his eyes shining with happiness.
Mrs. Luot poured a cup of tea, her hands still shaking. Looking around the newly renovated house with the toilet and kitchen attached, she tearfully recalled the difficult days. "I can't remember how many times we fell because the hill was slippery, especially on long rainy days. The dirt road from the foot of the mountain to the house was only a few dozen meters long but we couldn't walk. The house leaked, the kitchen leaked even more, there were days when we couldn't light a fire and had to hold it in," Mrs. Luot said.
Not far away, in the Thuong Tra residential area, the spacious flat-roofed house of Mrs. Pham Thi Thieu and her children is gradually being completed. Mrs. Thieu is also a poor household in Tan Dan ward.
Previously, Mrs. Thieu and her youngest son, Mr. Tran Van Thieu, lived temporarily in two separate houses, both of which were seriously degraded. Her house was located at the foot of the mountain, and in the rainy season, water splashed across the floor. Mr. Thieu's house was no better, shaking with just a strong wind.
Mrs. Thieu's husband passed away a long time ago, and she has been working hard to raise her four children. For more than half of her life, she has lived in a dilapidated house with peeling walls and a roof that has rotted over the years. She thought that with just effort, poverty would gradually disappear when her children grew up. However, tragedy struck when she discovered she had cancer. After so many years of hard work, Mrs. Thieu now feels even more burdened as she becomes a burden to her children. The solid house that is gradually being completed is not only a place to avoid the rain and sun, but also a final support for a hard-working mother.
When the program to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses was implemented, the local government mobilized and connected the mother and daughter to build a house together, both saving costs and helping Mrs. Thieu have someone to take care of her when she is sick or old.
The new house is over 120 square meters wide and cost over 600 million VND to build. Of this, the State supported 100 million VND. The rest was contributed by the family's children. The house is spacious, has clean tiled floors, and has a full kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. This is something she never dared to dream of before.
“Having a new house and being able to live with my children makes me feel very secure. Now I just hope to have enough health to live a few more years to enjoy my children and grandchildren,” Ms. Thieu shared.
Warm human love
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The newly completed spacious 2-storey house of veteran Phan Van Doan’s family in Lau Khe village, Hiep Cat commune (Nam Sach) is a true testament to comradeship. With 80 million VND in support from the Hai Duong Province Veterans Association and the help of his family and relatives, Mr. Doan and his wife have a home in the true sense of the word.
At the age of 83, despite the many difficulties and deprivations in life, he still quietly refused when the local authorities proposed to put him on the list of poor households. For him, as long as he has strength, he will try harder, as long as he has comrades, he will have support. A few fields of rice are also the main source of income for the elderly couple to stay and raise their children to study. The 56th “comradeship” house awarded by the provincial Veterans Association this year is a gift that helps the couple have a warm and peaceful place to return to in their old age.
Previously, the whole family and their three daughters lived in a cramped three-room house with old tiled floors, cracked walls, and a sloping roof. “There were rainy nights when water leaked all over the house. Sometimes the whole family had to wear raincoats and stay up all night,” Mr. Doan’s eyes reddened as he recalled those difficult days.
Life is so difficult, but in return, all three of the couple's daughters are good students, graduated from university and have stable jobs. However, deep down, their children still feel sorry for themselves because of poverty. The children love their parents who have worked hard all their lives without daring to rest, remembering the nights they had to hug each other in a leaky house. "None of my children dare to think about getting married, they just want their parents to live a comfortable life for the last few years. With a new house, the children can feel secure about their parents in their old age," shared Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hang - Mr. Doan's wife.
Chairman of the Nam Sach District Veterans Association Nguyen Van Duc said: “The House of Love is not only a shelter from the rain and sun, but it is the hearts and feelings of comrades for each other. Some contribute labor, some contribute money, each brick or each bag of cement… All come from sharing, from the spirit of Uncle Ho’s soldiers who never leave each other, whether in peacetime or in hardship.”
The "comradely love" houses or the new shelters built from the program to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses are just two of many programs that have been and are being widely implemented in Hai Duong.
The joint efforts of the government, socio -political organizations and philanthropists have created the strength to help thousands of poor and near-poor households overcome difficulties and rebuild their lives. In particular, the program has helped thousands of families in difficult circumstances, including many elderly people who are in dire need of a solid home to enjoy their old age.
According to Mr. Pham Quang San, Vice President of the Elderly Association of Hai Duong province, the elderly are a vulnerable group in society, they are unable to work and have difficulty being financially independent. Many of them live alone or with their children and grandchildren in difficult economic conditions. Temporary, dilapidated houses not only affect the quality of life but also pose a potential risk of insecurity, especially during the rainy season.
“Elderly people in difficult circumstances are one of the top priority groups in the program. Each house built is not only a physical shelter, but also a spiritual support for the elderly to live happily and healthily,” said Mr. San.
The new houses that are gradually being completed in the localities have helped many people reduce difficulties in their old age, demonstrating the deep concern of the whole society. This is also a testament to the humanitarian spirit and affection in the social security programs of Hai Duong province.
TRAN HIENSource: https://baohaiduong.vn/ngoi-nha-moi-suoi-am-tuoi-xe-chieu-412635.html
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