"The sweet fruits" of perseverance and compassionate hearts.

The family of Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha (Linh Nam ward, Hanoi) has been out of poverty for three years. Now, their lives are much more stable, but she will never forget the hardships of her life, for which her extended family and the community have shown immense care and support.

The story of Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha is not only about her journey to escape the label of "poor household" on the local government's list, but also a testament to the resilience of a single mother raising two children and the warm support of the community and local authorities.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha (first from the left) chatting with Mr. Tran Van Lai, Secretary of the Party Branch of Residential Group No. 1, 2, Linh Nam Ward, and her mother-in-law. Photo: Hien Thu

The battle against fate

In her small house on Nguyen Khoai Street, Linh Nam Ward, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha (born in 1974) emotionally recounted the turbulent periods of her life. It was 2019, when her husband, the family's breadwinner, suddenly passed away. Before the pain of loss could subside, Mrs. Ha had to struggle to work day and night to support her two children who were still in school (the eldest in 12th grade, the youngest in 6th grade). Poverty was no longer just a concept on paper, but a tangible reality in every meal of rice and vegetables, in the burden of raising and educating her children alone, and in worrying about their future.

Tragedy struck the family just a month after her husband's death when her eldest child, a 12th-grade student, was involved in a serious traffic accident, severely injuring her leg right before her university entrance exams. Because her child is unable to walk and requires assistance with all daily activities, Mrs. Ha works odd jobs every day while also trying to find time to carry her child up to the third floor of the classroom so that her education wouldn't be interrupted.

The image of that devoted mother touched the hearts of the students. There were days when the students volunteered to carry her. After a month, the child began to walk again, and the perseverance of both mother and child was rewarded when the child was admitted to university to study education, fulfilling her dream.

"Life was incredibly difficult back then, but seeing my young children, I thought that if I gave up, they wouldn't have anyone to rely on and would lose their future, so I kept trying," shared Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha.

Support from the community

For three years (2020, 2021, and 2022), Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha's family was classified as a poor household, coinciding with the complex developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, thus compounding their difficulties. The entire family's economy depended solely on the single mother's wages from her part-time job, and during the lockdown period, that income ceased.

During their most difficult times, the Thanh Tri ward authorities at the time and Residential Group No. 5 of the former Thanh Tri ward (now Linh Nam ward) became the strongest support for her family.

Mr. Tran Van Lai, Secretary of the Party Branch and Head of Residential Group No. 5, Thanh Tri Ward (formerly), was a close supporter of Ms. Ha's family. He personally reviewed and proposed that Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha's family be included in the list of poor households to benefit from state and Hanoi city policies as stipulated.

Since then, free health insurance cards for the children, bags of rice, and gifts during holidays from the "For the Poor" Fund have helped make the family's meals less meager. In addition, the neighborhood's Education Promotion Fund regularly provides books, notebooks, and awards whenever the children receive certificates of merit, helping them to confidently continue their education.

In particular, during the lockdown period, the mother and her three children, despite having no salary or source of income, remained confident in complying with disease prevention and control measures because the ward authorities, neighborhood committees, and various organizations always provided them with sufficient food and essential supplies.

Beyond material support, the regular visits from neighbors, community officials, and the Women's Association have instilled confidence in Ms. Ha, preventing her from feeling left behind.

Besides the support from all levels of government, both her paternal and maternal families are also a pillar of hope for Mrs. Ha and her children. Her mother-in-law, now 85 years old, is still by her side every day, offering encouragement. Her relatives on both her paternal and maternal sides regularly inquire about and care for the three of them.

Despite receiving much support and assistance, Ms. Ha never became dependent; in fact, she worked twice or three times as hard as the average person. During the day, she worked at the company, and in the evenings, she would travel all the way to Tran Hung Dao Street to clean offices and gas stations from 8 PM until late at night. On weekends, she would clean apartment buildings, earning an extra 200,000 VND each time to cover her children's tuition fees.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha's hard work is a direct reflection of her two children. Understanding their mother's struggles, both children are very well-behaved, helping each other cook meals, clean up, and striving to study hard to change their destiny.

The sweet reward after years of hard work.

By 2023, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha's family had officially escaped poverty. This is a significant milestone not only for her personally but also a source of pride for the entire neighborhood and local government.

The greatest reward is the growth and maturity of our children. Our eldest child has graduated from the Teacher Training University, is now working, and has begun helping me raise her younger siblings. Our youngest son is also diligently studying in 12th grade with the dream of entering university. Out of love for his mother's hard work, our youngest son still helps out in his free time to ease her burden.

“My eldest child told me: ‘Mom, work less. Now I can work and help you support my younger sibling’s education.’ Hearing that, I felt very warm inside,” Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha shared with a happy smile.

Outside of work, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha usually spends her time cooking and taking care of her children. Photo: Provided by the subject.

What is admirable is that after being helped and guided through difficult times, Ms. Ha always feels grateful and is always ready to share with those less fortunate. Although she still has many responsibilities to worry about, she regularly sets aside a small portion of her income to help those in need, because she understands the value of a loaf of bread or a packet of sticky rice during times of poverty. She also always contributes fully to all the funds submitted to the ward, especially the "For the Poor" Fund.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien, Ms. Ha's mother-in-law, said: "My family has received a lot of support and assistance from the government and various organizations, which is why we are where we are today. That is a great encouragement for my children, grandchildren, and me to suffer less."

According to Mr. Tran Van Lai, Secretary of the Party Cell of Residential Area No. 1 and 2 in Linh Nam Ward, "For the past few years, there have been no poor or near-poor households in the area. However, both the old and new ward authorities, since the implementation of the two-tiered local government system, have carried out many activities to care for and support disadvantaged people and vulnerable individuals. This has helped stabilize social security and build people's trust in the government."

The story of Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha's escape from poverty is a vivid testament to the effectiveness of social welfare policies when implemented with the dedication of local officials. It is a harmonious combination of the self-reliance of poor households and timely support from the government, organizations, and the community.

Having settled down, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha repeatedly expressed her gratitude to the residents of her neighborhood, the benefactors, and the authorities at all levels who helped her family. Her greatest wish now is not for herself, but for the residents who helped her family to remain healthy and happy, and for all the benefactors to prosper so they can help many more people overcome difficulties like her family.

The heartfelt words of Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha are clear evidence of the warmth spreading through compassionate hearts that know how to share, love, and help the community.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/trai-ngot-tu-nghi-luc-and-nhung-tam-long-nhan-ai-726898.html