Thien Tam Group of kind-hearted people

The “team” of people passionate about social work has quickly established its “brand” through countless charitable deeds. Thanks to that, there are now more than 30 members working together, coming from all over the world.

Nhóm Thiện Tâm bàn giao cây cầu cho chính quyền địa phương. — Thien Tam Group hands over bridge to local authorities

Building "bridges connecting happy shores"

Many times when giving gifts to families in difficult circumstances in the Western provinces, Mr. Son and his colleagues witnessed people having to cross some temporary bridges, which were very unsafe. He recalled: “I will never forget the image of old men and women having to bend down, groping each step when crossing the bridge. That motivated us to be determined to build a new bridge.”

Indeed, once the “heart” speaks, nothing is impossible. Mr. Son proactively discussed with local leaders, hired a survey unit, and gave a quote. The commune government took charge of legal procedures and design drawings. The local government contributed half of the total average investment capital of 500 million VND/bridge, and the rest was sponsored by Thien Tam group.

Knowing about this meaningful humanitarian program, many of Mr. Son’s acquaintances enthusiastically supported. “A little bit makes a lot”, the amount of 250 million VND was too large but after a few weeks it was completely within reach, thanks to the kind hearts. From the first bridge connecting the two banks of joy, up to now, Thien Tam group has built dozens of sturdy concrete bridges.

On the morning of July 6, 2023, in the boundless joy of the inauguration ceremony of the Nam Cham Canal Bridge, Thanh An Hamlet, Thanh Loc Commune, Giong Rieng District, Kien Giang Province, Mr. Phan Van Phu - Chairman of the People's Committee of Thanh Loc Commune confided: "The people here will always be grateful to the Thien Tam Group. In meetings in the hamlets, we will often mention this noble gesture to encourage people to live well, worthy of today's extremely meaningful gift".

For the local people, the bridge is now not only valuable in terms of transportation, because it also carries a heavy meaning of warm sharing. Stepping on the bridge that still smells of cement, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Kim, 71 years old, living in Thanh An hamlet, Thanh Loc commune, her eyes red with tears, said: "From today, the elderly and children no longer have to worry when crossing the bridge. We consider this bridge a kindness left by our brothers and sisters from Ho Chi Minh City, so we will remember it forever in our hearts."

Một trong những cây cầu được nhóm Thiện Tâm xây dựng, ảnh trên là cầu cũ — One of the bridges built by Thien Tam group (below photo), the photo above is the old bridge

Homes filled with love

Delivering charity gifts to people's homes, Thien Tam group understands more deeply the circumstances of each family. Some thatched houses are dilapidated, empty, and fragile in the wind and rain, making Ms. Dau Thi Ha, 47 years old, living in Phu Huu Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City - one of the group members, worried: "Gifts only help people for a few days, we are determined to build new houses so that people can settle down and make a living."

Thus, the program to build “Bridges of Love – Houses of Love” was officially born. The average construction cost for each house is 50 million VND, and so far, nearly 20 houses have been donated by the group. Building bridges for people to walk on, building houses for people to live in, the kind hearts of the Thien Tam group bring humanity and kindness, sharing the joys and sorrows with many difficult lives.

Good news travels fast, philanthropist Dang Chi Kien (60 years old) - Director of Kien Cuong Transport Company Limited (Hoang Dieu 2 Street, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City), always joins hands with the group. Mr. Kien's sympathetic words are very touching: "Many things cover the mirror. I am lucky to be like this while there are still people who need help. Seeing young people doing heroic things, I cannot stand aside."

Standing in front of her new house, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diem, 43 years old, residing in My Thanh hamlet, Thanh My commune, Thap Muoi district, Dong Thap province, cried tears of joy: "I thought I was dreaming. This is truly my family's dream house."

Choosing the right person to entrust gold, Mr. Son's friends have just introduced to the group the case of baby Ngo Van Luc, only 5 months old but has a malignant retinal tumor. Baby Luc's mother is blind, and the baby's father also had to have retinal surgery on both eyes. Poverty and illness are surrounding the couple, who are self-employed and live in An Binh Ward, Di An City ( Binh Duong ). The group is racing against time to raise 20 million VND for the baby's eye surgery, because according to the doctor, if delayed, baby Luc's eyes will have to be like his mother's.

Charity must begin from the heart.

“Commander” Nguyen Giang Son often teaches the members of Thien Tam group like that. Mr. Son also always reminds that “the way of giving is better than what is given”. Therefore, the gift is sometimes very simple but the group still carefully packs and preserves it. Many times on the way of transportation, it rained heavily, the members of the group accepted “letting themselves get wet rather than letting the gift get wet”.

In late September, the Thien Tam group departed from Ho Chi Minh City, traveled more than 2,000 km, and traveled many dangerous roads in the districts of Bat Xat and Bao Yen, Lao Cai province, giving away more than 400 gifts including dry food, medicine, and clothes to people who were dealing with the severe consequences of natural disasters.

Nhóm Thiện Tâm tài trợ xây nhà tình thương — Thien Tam Group sponsors building charity houses

After the storm and flood, humanity remains. The strength of solidarity and the heart that loves others as if they loved themselves has created a strong bond, a block of “special concrete”, “cast” with unshakable love.

Accompanying the Thien Tam group on charity trips, monk Thich Tam Luong confided: “The more I travel, the more I realize that what I do is so small, nothing compared to the thousands of pitiful lives. We are willing to do everything we can, hoping that our people will soon overcome their loss.”

Thanks to charity starting from the heart, Mr. Son and the entire Thien Tam group almost never have to “keep a statement”. Looking at the gifts and the number given, everyone can calculate the cost. The group members cannot remember how many times the number of people coming to receive gifts exceeded the original list, even though no one told them to, everyone voluntarily contributed more to meet the additional number. These details, even if “made a statement”, cannot be counted.

Humanity in times of trouble makes all the limits of space and time become small. After the long trip to the beloved North, the members returned to their daily work. Mr. Son - the team leader, continued to work as a security guard at the Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park, Ms. Nguyen Thi Dinh, his wife, worked diligently at a small roadside refreshment stall. However, just a few weeks later, they will set off again on a volunteer trip. The destinations are still places with many lives in need of support.

Everything in this world often appears and then disappears. However, I believe that the good deeds of Thien Tam group will forever spread their fragrance. The group is determined to achieve the goal of building at least 2 bridges of love and 2 houses of love to celebrate the group's 10th birthday next year, which is also the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification.