Supporting those who have made mistakes to reintegrate into the community.

QTO - After serving their prison sentences, many people hope to find stable employment to rebuild their lives. However, the journey of reintegration into society is never easy, as many difficulties, feelings of shame, and the pressure of making a living still lie ahead. Recently, the Le Thuy Branch of the Social Policy Bank, along with related units, has implemented a credit program under Decision No. 22/2023/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister, creating opportunities for many former offenders to find work, stabilize their lives, and gradually reintegrate into the community through honest labor.

Opening the path to rehabilitation

These days, the family of Mr. LVĐ. in Thống Nhất village, Tân Mỹ commune, is busy preparing sound systems, lighting, tables, and chairs for weddings and events in the area. Few people know that to achieve the stable life he has today, he went through a difficult period after serving his prison sentence and returning to his hometown. Without a stable job, his family struggled, causing him to often feel inferior and ashamed. During this most difficult time, his family accessed a preferential loan of 100 million VND from the Social Policy Bank for those who had completed their prison sentences, which they used to invest in a wedding service business.

With that initial capital, the couple invested in additional equipment for their work, started organizing small wedding receptions in the area, and gradually expanded the scale. Thanks to their hard work and building a good reputation with customers, their business gradually became more stable, providing the family with additional income to support their lives.

What Mr. D. appreciated most was not only the loan but also the trust from the local government and the Social Policy Bank. "For people like me who have made mistakes in the past, being given the opportunity to do business is a motivation to try to change ourselves, to live more responsibly towards our families and society," he shared.

Officials at the Le Thuy branch of the Social Policy Bank guide people through the procedures for applying for policy loans - Photo: MH

It's not just Mr. D.'s family; many other people who have completed their prison sentences in the area are also gradually stabilizing their lives thanks to this policy-based credit. In Le Ninh commune, Mr. VQH's family faced many difficulties when his wife had to work as a laborer and rent land to grow acacia trees to support their two young children while he was serving his prison sentence for gambling.

After returning to their hometown, the couple borrowed 100 million VND from the Social Policy Bank to open a breakfast and dinner restaurant. Thanks to their hard work, their small restaurant gradually gained regular customers, and their lives became more stable than before. “When I returned, what my wife and I hoped for most was capital to start a stable business. Thanks to the loan from the Social Policy Bank, our family was able to open the restaurant we have now. Life isn't luxurious yet, but it's much less difficult,” Mr. H. said.

Behind these stories lies the struggle of those who have made mistakes to overcome their guilt and rebuild their lives. And on that journey, policy-based funding has become the "fishing rod" that enables them to stand up on their own two feet through their own labor instead of relying solely on assistance.

Humanistic support

Decision No. 22/2023/QD-TTg, dated August 17, 2023, of the Prime Minister on credit for individuals who have completed their prison sentences is considered a policy with profound humanitarian significance. The policy creates conditions for individuals who have completed their prison sentences to borrow capital for production, business, vocational training, job creation, and stabilizing their lives after returning to their localities.

To effectively utilize this capital, the Le Thuy Branch of the Social Policy Bank has coordinated with the police, local authorities, and socio- political organizations to review loan needs, guide applicants in completing necessary documents, and disburse funds promptly to eligible cases. Loan procedures are also publicly displayed at the branch office to facilitate access to the policy for the people.

According to Tran Thi Phuong, Deputy Director of the Le Thuy Branch of the Social Policy Bank, most people who have completed their prison sentences want to have stable jobs to take care of their families and stay away from social vices. Therefore, preferential loan capital not only provides economic support but also helps them gain more confidence to reintegrate into the community.

"The most important aspect of the program is not just providing loans, but also helping those who have completed their prison sentences feel that they are still cared for by society and given opportunities to rebuild their lives. With stable employment and income, they will be more confident in life, reduce the risk of recidivism, and gradually become useful citizens to society," Ms. Phuong stated.

During the implementation process, in addition to disbursing loans, relevant units also coordinated in disseminating information and guiding borrowers to use the capital for the right purposes and choose economic development models suitable to the actual conditions of each family. Some localities also focused on encouraging and creating conditions for borrowers to participate in community activities, thereby gradually overcoming feelings of inferiority and becoming more confident in life.

To date, the Le Thuy branch of the Social Policy Bank has provided loans to 51 individuals who have completed their prison sentences, with a total outstanding balance of nearly 4.6 billion VND. This figure demonstrates the significant need of those returning to their localities to find employment opportunities and stabilize their lives after setbacks. The preferential loan program for those who have completed their prison sentences not only supports their livelihoods but also opens up opportunities for many who have made mistakes to confidently start their lives anew. When given trust and opportunities for honest work, they gain more motivation to live more positively, stabilize their lives, and gradually reintegrate into the community.

My Hanh

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202605/tiep-suc-nguoi-lam-lo-tai-hoa-nhap-cong-dong-55568e2/