Social Charity Committee: Caring for disadvantaged areas and poor households

Realizing the core value of Buddhist teachings is to aim for the common happiness and peace of the community, over the years, the Provincial Buddhist Sangha has done a good job of mobilizing resources to implement community support programs. In 2024 alone, the Provincial Buddhist Sangha has carried out many projects and tasks, with a total value of over 48 billion VND. Of which, the Social Charity Board mobilized a contribution of 16.3 billion VND.

The Social Charity Board is one of 11 boards under the Provincial Buddhist Sangha. In 2024, the Social Charity Board focused resources on building essential public works. Specifically, 68 rural traffic bridges were built, helping people in remote areas to travel conveniently; 16 warm charity houses were given to poor households, providing a warm and peaceful home. The Board also supported 7 fresh water wells, solving the problem of domestic water for people in scarce areas.

In 2024, the Provincial Buddhist Social Charity Board handed over 16 charity houses, contributing to the program of eliminating temporary houses in the locality.

In 2024, the Provincial Buddhist Social Charity Board handed over 16 charity houses, contributing to the program of eliminating temporary houses in the locality.

With the desire to help the dreams of future generations take flight, the Social Charity Board pays special attention to supporting poor but studious students, with a total value of 1.45 billion VND. Thousands of students have received meaningful gifts such as: 250 bicycles, 60,000 notebooks, school supplies, 700 backpacks, 220 scholarships, helping them to reduce their financial burden and study with peace of mind. Not only that, the Social Charity Board also shows deep sympathy for people in difficult circumstances, social protection beneficiaries through many meaningful gifts, promptly encouraging and helping the less fortunate to overcome difficulties in life.

A humane activity of the Board is to maintain 2 daily charity kitchens at Ca Mau General Hospital and Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital. These free meals become a source of encouragement, helping poor patients have more determination to fight against diseases during their treatment days at the hospital. At the same time, 4 clinics and dispensing rooms of Oriental medicine at monasteries, perform examinations and provide free Western medicine to poor patients in remote areas, contributing practically to community health care.

Venerable Thich Nu Dieu Chanh, Deputy of the Executive Committee and Head of the Social Charity Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in the province, expressed her determination to promote propaganda to help monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers believe in and support the renovation of their homeland and country, agree with the policy of streamlining the apparatus and rearranging administrative units; at the same time, make efforts to mobilize resources to effectively implement the program of eliminating temporary and dilapidated houses with the province.

Venerable Thach Ha: A lifetime devoted to religion and community

The above mentioned achievements in Buddhist affairs and positive contributions to the social security work of the provincial Vietnam Buddhist Sangha must include the role of the Executive Committee, headed by Most Venerable Thach Ha, Head of the Executive Committee of the provincial Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Chairman of the Provincial Association of Patriotic Monks and Monks.

Venerable Thach Ha was born in Hung Hoi commune, Vinh Loi district, Bac Lieu province, and comes from a family with a tradition of studying and practicing. At the age of 17, he decided to enter a pagoda in his hometown to study Buddhism. After more than 10 years of studying and practicing, in 1985, he was assigned to be the abbot of Monivongsa pagoda, Ward 1, Ca Mau city, where he remains today.

Venerable Thach Ha shared: “According to tradition, Khmer youths when they grow up all study Buddhism. The time of study depends on each person’s destiny, it can be a few months, but there are also people who vow to devote their whole life to Buddhism. The more I study Buddhism, the more I realize my responsibility, how to help my fellow countrymen and Buddhists live a good life, contributing to bringing a prosperous and happy life to everyone.”

With 50 years of dedicated study and practice, Venerable Thach Ha is not only a true monk, a solid pillar of the provincial VBS through many stages of development in the locality, but also makes important contributions to consolidating the great national unity bloc and resolutely fighting against the insidious plots and tricks of hostile forces that take advantage of religious and ethnic issues to cause division. The Venerable's steadfastness and decisive attitude are clearly demonstrated through his constant promotion of propaganda and timely dissemination of the Party and State's policies and guidelines to monks, nuns, Buddhists and ethnic minorities, ensuring the maintenance of security, order and social safety.

Venerable Thach Ha made important contributions to strengthening national unity.

Venerable Thach Ha made important contributions to strengthening national unity.

As a delegate of the People's Council of Ca Mau province for the 7th, 8th and 9th terms, Venerable Thach Ha has demonstrated a high sense of responsibility, always listening and reflecting the legitimate thoughts and aspirations of voters as well as compatriots and Buddhists to the authorities at all levels; coordinating with sectors and levels to resolve and foster the trust of compatriots and Buddhists in the leadership of the Party and State. In 2024, Venerable Thach Ha personally mobilized and supported social security activities worth 960 million VND.

Under the dedicated and prestigious leadership of Most Venerable Thach Ha, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Ca Mau province is increasingly stable and developing strongly. Monks, nuns, and Buddhists always have faith, constantly practice and follow the religion, build a good life, and contribute to building a more civilized and beautiful society.

Venerable Thich Nhuan Tri: Building a bridge connecting the homeland

Over the years, the image of Venerable Thich Nhuan Tri, Deputy Secretary and Head of the Buddhist Guidance Committee of the Provincial Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Abbot of Phuoc Dien Buddhist Recitation Hall (Phong Dien Commune, Tran Van Thoi District) has become familiar to the people of rural Ca Mau. Because whenever he hears news of unfortunate circumstances, households in need of housing, places lacking transportation bridges..., Venerable devotes himself to campaigning, hoping to bring a happy life to the people.

The image of Venerable Thich Nhuan Tri is associated with bridges, houses and many difficult situations in localities in the province.

The image of Venerable Thich Nhuan Tri is associated with bridges, houses and many difficult situations in localities in the province.

Venerable Thich Nhuan Tri's real name is Nguyen Huu Du, from Dak Lak province. After graduating from the College of Information Technology, in 2004, he became a monk at Phat To Pagoda, Ca Mau City; in 2011, he was assigned to build Phuoc Dien Buddhist Temple. Since then, the Venerable has learned more about the rural areas of Ca Mau, an area with a network of rivers and canals, making it difficult for people to travel, and so the idea of ​​building a bridge was formed. Fortunately, the mobilization work has been trusted and supported by the people, over the past 14 years, through the Venerable's mobilization, 150 traffic bridges have been built; 18 charity houses and 96 wells have been supported, along with thousands of gifts for poor households and poor but studious students...

Photos of groundbreaking ceremonies, inaugurations of traffic bridges, charity houses, gift giving... were all posted by the Venerable on social networking sites, with the hope of spreading good things in the community and receiving more and more support from donors, continuing the volunteer journey.

Venerable Thich Nhuan Tri shared: "Thanks to the community's cooperation, I hope to contribute to reducing the hardships for the people, while creating conditions for the countryside to prosper thanks to convenient transportation. I always keep in mind that religion must always accompany the nation and I will continue volunteer activities to beautify life"./.

Dream of the Ordinary

Source: https://baocamau.vn/dong-hanh-cung-su-phat-trien-que-huong-a38903.html