13 years ago, when her grandchild Nguyen Thi Tuyet Nga (born 1948) entered middle school, she happily accepted the position of head of the student representative board. Many people were concerned about her health. But she was not worried, still diligently doing the assigned work, achieving convincing successes.
Ms. Tuyet Nga and volunteer doctors in Ho Chi Minh City. PHOTO: NVCC
She and the school contacted organizations, businesses, and philanthropists everywhere to support the children to continue their studies. To date, more than 40 students have received sponsorship. She confided that she had been in dire straits, so she understood the great dream of the children and grandchildren to continue their studies (her husband passed away when she was only 33 years old, her family was in a normal situation, if not still in a difficult life, with 4 children, the youngest of whom was only 8 months old, the remaining children were still in school age, she had to suppress her grief to raise them). She always contributed to help the children overcome difficulties.
She has set impressive "records" such as in 2021, awarding the Lighting up Dreams scholarship of Dong Thap Lottery and mobilizing to give Nguyen Phu Thanh - a student at the school (where her nephew studies) more than 130 million VND, besides finding a place to live for his family.
Nguyen Hoai Thanh, born in 2000, a fourth-year student at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City, who received support, said he always remembers her and the benefactors who helped him overcome major obstacles in his life. Thanh affectionately calls Mrs. Nga: "My Grandma Muoi!".
Or the case of Nguyen Duy Cuong, born in 1989, whose mother had a serious heart condition, he was at risk of dropping out of school. With the help of Mrs. Nga and friends, he graduated from high school, continued to study nursing and worked at Cho Ray Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City. When he settled in the US, he still remembered her. He often sent money back to share with people who had similar lives to his own. Mr. Cuong emotionally called her "Ma Hai", he said "Ma Hai is my benefactor, my second mother".
Ms. Nga attended the graduation ceremony with a sponsored student. PHOTO: NVCC
During her 20 years of working to promote education, she has had many companions who admire, understand, trust her and together support the children. That is Ms. Pham Thi Thu Vu, daughter of philanthropist Pham Van Ben - Co May (now deceased). Ms. Thu Vu donated rice, provided meals for poor students, people in difficulty... to support tuition fees and accommodation at Co May dormitory, Ho Chi Minh City for students who have no place to stay to study.
Besides, there is also the support of intellectuals such as lawyer Xuan Huong, doctors in Sa Dec and Ho Chi Minh City, Anh hairdressing training facility...
Doctor Nguyen Huu Nhat Truong, working at Sa Dec Hospital, said he was very impressed with Ms. Tuyet Nga's dedication to the community. During her trips to examine and treat people in difficult areas, Dr. Nhat Truong was always happy to participate when she invited him.
Old age still happy with the work of promoting education
Old age and old age diseases also affect health, but Ms. Nga is still happy to promote learning and talent... When she hears of a difficult situation that needs help, she is there immediately. She often walks to the locality, to the house, to the school to meet the government, organizations, families, and meet the children directly so that the support is right and effective. She happily confides that thanks to walking, her health has clearly improved. Any student who needs her support can send a letter or meet her in person at any time.
In December 2023, in addition to the scholarship worth 12 million VND from the Dong Thap Provincial Association for the Promotion of Education and Vinh Hoan Company to Phan Thanh Truc (a student at Nguyen Dinh Chieu High School for the Gifted, Sa Dec City), Ms. Nga and other sponsors gave her more than 100 million VND and a laptop. Her family has no land to cultivate, her father is a worker, her mother is a janitor, at risk of dropping out of school but is determined to escape poverty. Truc is an excellent student and a third prize in the national Biology competition, and was directly admitted to Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy .
Ms. Tuyet Nga’s love for students who have overcome difficulties has helped her connect with philanthropists abroad. Over the years, dozens of laptops have been delivered to students through Ms. Tuyet Nga’s introduction. There have been many cases where students were given laptops right at their dormitory without having to return to their hometown (which is both time-consuming and costly).
"The Fragrance of Compassion" spreads
Ms. Tuyet Nga shared that in 2012, she went to Sa Dec General Hospital to visit a patient. When she passed the kidney treatment area, she saw a woman leaning against a stone bench, looking tired. When she asked, she learned that this woman had just finished a regular dialysis session and was too tired and hungry to walk. Ms. Tuyet Nga was touched, so she invited her to dinner and took her home.
The image of that woman made her think a lot. She went to the hospital doctors to find out. The doctor said that before dialysis, the patient should eat a nutritious meal and drink more milk. The specific menu will be prescribed by the doctor, each case will have limits on salt, protein, potassium, etc. So Ms. Tuyet Nga decided to help the dialysis patient have a nutritious meal before and after treatment. The Huong Tu Bi charity group, whose core is the Buddhists of Tu Quang Pagoda, Sa Dec, was born and contributed to support immediately. Notably, in 2015, the pagoda transferred 126 million VND to prepare for repairing the pagoda's facilities to support the law enforcement forces at the Coast Guard Command and the Fisheries Control Department of Region 2, etc. to show the people's hearts for the soldiers' mission of protecting their homeland's sea and islands.
Volunteer Doctors Club of Ho Chi Minh City and Sa Dec City before leaving for work. PHOTO: NVCC
Ms. Tuyet Nga enthusiastically participated in the Sa Dec City Volunteer Medical Club from the beginning. She and her group organized many medical examinations, provided free medicine, cut hair for patients, and held charity markets for people in difficult circumstances throughout the wards and communes for many consecutive years.
With over 100 patients regularly undergoing dialysis, meals are carefully taken care of by Ms. Tuyet Nga and her colleagues, reducing costs for families, patients are reassured, and hospital leaders support. Up to now, meals are still maintained.
N., a student in my class who had to take care of her mother on dialysis, was at risk of dropping out of school. She shared that it was difficult to do well in her studies and take care of her mother when her dialysis time and her school hours overlapped. I boldly discussed with her, hoping that she would support her. Knowing the story, Mrs. Nga quickly met with the leaders to find a way to help N. not drop out of school. After that, the hospital arranged suitable treatment hours for N.'s mother in the afternoon and evening. She was able to arrange her time to go to school and take care of her mother, so she attended school until graduation.
Together with philanthropists, Sa Dec City Red Cross Society gives gifts to people in need. PHOTO: NVCC
With these contributions, Ms. Tuyet Nga and her colleagues were honored at the Hoa Philanthropy Gratitude Ceremony organized by the Red Cross Society of Dong Thap province in 2023; in 2024, she was awarded a certificate of merit by the Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee for her volunteer activities.
Ms. Tuyet Nga expressed: "My wish is that the care of dialysis patients, the work of helping students succeed in their studies, escape poverty, and contribute to society... will be continued and further developed by the next generation. I believe that more people will participate so that volunteering can spread everywhere."
During one meeting, she told me: "I will devote the rest of my time to the unfortunate, helping to ease their pain. I believe I can do that!"
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nguoi-ket-noi-yeu-thuong-18525050622263862.htm
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