Escaping poverty with determination and community 'support'

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ut Em (residing in Nhut Long hamlet, Vam Co commune) takes care of her elderly mother every day.

The family of Ms. Nguyen Thi Ut Em (residing in Nhut Long hamlet, Vam Co commune, Tay Ninh province) used to be a poor household in the locality. She and her husband had to raise 2 young children and 1 older daughter who is a university student, and take care of her seriously ill elderly mother.

Before, she took care of her father and two other siblings, but now they have passed away one after another. Life has never been easy for her. Although her husband has a stable job, it is not enough with all the expenses.

More than a year ago, her family was given a breeding cow. Every day, after taking care of her child and mother, she takes the time to cut grass to feed the cow. The breeding cow is not only an asset but also a hope. In addition to the support policy, family affection is also a great source of motivation. Her five sisters always share. Her family's current house was built with the sisters' pooled money to lend.

Thanks to her will and determination, Ut Em's family's life has gradually become more stable, from a poor household to a near-poor household. Ut Em always maintains her belief: "When my mother gets better, I will go to work to help my husband. My family must try harder to escape poverty."

Not only are there cases of people who have risen through hard work like Ms. Ut Em, but there are also cases in the province where poverty stems from persistent illness. For example, the family of Mr. Nguyen Van Tu (residing in Phuoc Tinh hamlet, My Yen commune), his wife has a serious heart disease and has had to undergo many surgeries. The surgery in 2008 cost 80 million VND, forcing him to sell his only 0.1 hectare of rice field. In 2020, his wife continued to have a second surgery at a cost of 120 million VND. His son has congenital Down syndrome and needs regular care.

Therefore, the local authorities considered him a poor household to receive support policies. However, Mr. Tu never gave up. “I am poor, but not poor and just sit there. I have to work to live, I can’t depend on others forever” - Mr. Tu said. He worked as a hired worker, a construction worker, a factory worker, even a fish farmer, etc., as long as he had extra income.

Animal husbandry has had its ups and downs, the African swine fever epidemic caused him heavy losses but he was not discouraged. Thanks to the support of the locality, Mr. Tu's family gradually stabilized. In 2023, the Women's Union and the Military Command of Ben Luc District (old) supported him with a breeding cow. In addition, he borrowed preferential loans from the Social Policy Bank to do more business.

Thanks to local support combined with the spirit of self-reliance, his family has escaped poverty over the past 2 years. Although Mr. Tu's current life is not really abundant, he always appreciates what he has strived to achieve, continues to work hard to improve his income and maintain the achievement of escaping poverty./.

Khanh Duy

Source: https://baolongan.vn/thoat-ngheo-bang-nghi-luc-va-diem-tua-cong-dong-a206603.html