Mrs. Phuong's heart for the poor

For many years, more than 70 disadvantaged people have regularly received monthly support from a volunteer group led by Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong in Zone 5, Vi Thanh Ward. Few people know that behind this woman's dedication is a life full of events...

Born in Quang Ngai province, Ms. Phuong is the eldest child in a family with many siblings. At the age of 6, she suffered gasoline burns that affected her health and appearance. Not long after that, her father passed away, leaving her mother to raise 4 children alone.

Loving her mother and her younger siblings, before she was 16 years old, Ms. Phuong went out to earn a living. At that time, with a board full of toys and other small items on her shoulder, Ms. Phuong traveled around Ho Chi Minh City selling goods, saving money to send back home to pay for her mother's medicine, to pay for her life, to pay for her siblings' family, and then to think about her own happiness...
As fate would have it, one time she went to Vi Thanh city, old Hau Giang province (now Vi Thanh ward, Can Tho city) to do business, seeing that this land was livable, not long after that she brought her family here to settle down.

Starting a business in a foreign country, thanks to her diligence and resourcefulness, Ms. Phuong gradually accumulated capital, bought land, built a house and opened a wholesale store selling children's toys.

Having experienced hardship, Ms. Phuong (left cover) always wholeheartedly helps the poor around her.

6 years ago, when her family life gradually stabilized, Ms. Phuong started doing charity work to share with the difficult circumstances around her. Every month, Ms. Pham Thi Ba, in Area 1, Vi Thanh Ward, receives rice, noodles, necessities and sometimes cash from Ms. Phuong and members of the volunteer group. This support has become Ms. Ba's main source of income over the years. "Thanks to Ms. Phuong coming back and forth to visit and support me, I don't have to worry about running out of rice and have money to buy medicine. Because I'm old and sick all the time, I can't make money," Ms. Ba confided.

Mrs. Ba is one of about 70 situations supported by Khanh Duc Volunteer Group, led by Mrs. Phuong. Khanh Duc Volunteer Group (Area 6, Vi Thanh Ward), initiated and established by Mrs. Phuong in 2019, now has more than 150 participants.

On average, each month, the group spends about 15 million VND to support 60-80 gifts for difficult circumstances inside and outside the ward, each gift includes 10kg of rice, 1 box of noodles and necessities. For especially difficult cases, those with serious illnesses, the group also gives additional cash. The support fund comes from contributions from benefactors and group members, including Ms. Phuong's family.

Although her body is much weaker than her 56 years old due to the after-effects of gasoline burns 50 years ago, she is still enthusiastic about doing charity work everywhere to help people. Mr. Duong Van Thua, Party Cell Secretary, Head of Area 5, Vi Thanh Ward, said: “Ms. Phuong is a compassionate person. Her volunteer group regularly supports difficult circumstances, not only in the area but also in neighboring areas and people really appreciate Ms. Phuong's work.”

Article and photos: DANG THU

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/tam-long-ba-phuong-voi-nguoi-ngheo-a189947.html