With all my heart, 'everyone has food to eat, clothes to wear, and education to go to school'

The Cu Chi girl and her unforgettable love

Born and raised in the "steel and copper land" Cu Chi, a resilient land during the resistance war, Ms. Tran Kim Cuc was soon enlightened about the revolution.

At the age of 14, she joined the revolution: digging tunnels, making spike pits, and fighting politically under the leadership of the secret Party cells at that time. During the period 1964 - 1968, she was arrested 3 times, and in 1969 she was exiled to Con Dao for more than a year before being brought back to the mainland and imprisoned in Thu Duc. In 1972, Ms. Cuc was once again sent to Con Dao, suffering many brutal tortures but still maintaining her strong will. In October 1973, after the Paris Agreement was signed, she was released.

- Photo 1.

Binh Phu Dong Association gives charity houses to poor families in Dinh Quan District (old), Dong Nai Province

PHOTO: NVCC

Mrs. Cuc still remembers clearly the fierce sweep in the Iron Triangle area in 1966 - 1967. When the enemy swept in, she had to hide in Phu Hoa Dong tunnel for 10 consecutive days. "It was very hot down there, her hands and feet were red and itchy all over," she recalled. Seeing the young cadre suffering so much, the organization decided to let her "go up to live legally" and operate in the disputed area to maintain her forces. She was sent to Mr. and Mrs. Ba Truong's house, a revolutionary base in Phu Hoa Tay commune.

During the day, Mrs. Cuc helped with the housework, and at night, Mrs. Ba Truong took her back to the base. One day, while walking with Mrs. Ba through the edge of the forest near a cemetery, they unexpectedly encountered two guerilla soldiers. Before they could ask any questions, the commandos' snipers fired, killing the two soldiers on the spot.

Amidst the gunfire, the young woman panicked. Without any identification papers, Mrs. Cuc was afraid of being captured alive. "I told Mrs. Ba Truong: "Aunt Ba, let's run away, if we stay and get caught, we'll die." But she grabbed my hand and said firmly: "If you run, they'll shoot you dead immediately. Just lie still behind me." Then Mrs. Ba reassured me: "If you get caught, just say you're my daughter, I'll accept you as my daughter. I'm Le Thi Hoat, if they ask for my name, say I'm your mother." Luckily, the enemy withdrew, and the two were safe.

Retelling the story after more than half a century, Mrs. Cuc's voice still choked up: "Very touching. Very loving. The people truly loved me, protected me between life and death. That is true love."

After the country's reunification, Ms. Tran Kim Cuc continued her dedication, holding many important positions such as City Party Committee member and Tan Binh District Party Secretary. In 2004, she officially retired.

For this woman, retirement does not mean rest. "It's like not taking a day off at all," she said with a smile. Having just left her job as a local administrator, she immediately took on a new task: Head of the Liaison Committee for Former Political Prisoners of Tan Binh District - a job that has been with her for the past 21 years. Ms. Cuc confided that this job is both to educate tradition, to inspire the younger generation, and to care for and repay the kindness of her comrades who sacrificed. "Whatever I can do for former prisoners, I will do. Because these are the people who have endured hardships, hardships, and imprisonment," Ms. Cuc said.

Volunteer journey from "Uncle Ho's ultimate wish"

Along with her work helping former political prisoners, Ms. Tran Kim Cuc also has another "career", a journey she has cherished since her time in office.

- Photo 2.

At the age of 78, Mrs. Tran Kim Cuc is still diligent in volunteer work.

PHOTO: HOAI NHIEN

"I always remember Uncle Ho's saying: "I have only one desire, the utmost desire, which is to make our country completely independent, our people completely free, everyone has food to eat, clothes to wear, everyone can study." The country is at peace but not everyone is well-off, so when I retire, I still want to contribute more," Ms. Cuc shared.

In 2008, the Ho Chi Minh City Association for Supporting Poor Patients had a policy of establishing inter-district branches to better care for the poor in the city. The inter-district charity branch of Tan Binh - Tan Phu - District 12 was established, named Binh Phu Dong Charity Branch. To date, the branch has more than 70 members.

Ms. Tran Kim Cuc is one of 478 typical advanced examples in the patriotic emulation movement of Ho Chi Minh City in the period of 2020 - 2025. She is also a member of the city's delegation to attend the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress in December.

Over the past 17 years, the association has been working steadily, helping many disadvantaged people in life. Every year, the Binh Phu Dong Association mobilizes an average of 3-5 billion VND to carry out programs such as supporting eye surgery for poor patients, building charity houses, granting scholarships to poor students, etc. Since its establishment, the association has mobilized the construction of 240 charity houses in the provinces. Ms. Cuc explained that building houses helps poor families "settle down", parents can rest assured to do business "settled down" and then take care of their children's education.

With the scholarship program to help poor students, Ms. Cuc shared: "We have to help our children go to school so that they can find jobs and go to work. If they do not study, they will have too many difficulties and drop out of school to do manual labor, which will not help them overcome poverty. Therefore, Binh Phu Dong Association initially granted 200 scholarships/year to primary, secondary and high school students, then expanded to colleges and universities. Especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, the association focused on sponsoring 40 children who had lost both parents."

The association mobilizes benefactors to sponsor students 1-on-1 through "love contracts" and acts as an intermediary to transfer money quarterly. In 2025, students who pass the university entrance exam will be awarded 5 million VND immediately by the association and continue to mobilize benefactors to sponsor students to continue their studies.

To maintain the Binh Phu Dong Association for nearly 18 years, Ms. Cuc revealed two key secrets: the volunteering spirit of the members and absolute transparency. All activities of the association are public, with clear receipts and expenditures, widely announced on Facebook and in each charity trip, even the meals of the group are paid for by the members themselves, not using the association's funds.

At the age of 78, Mrs. Tran Kim Cuc still runs the Binh Phu Dong Association with the dedicated support of its members. It is this transparent, dedicated and responsible way of working that has built absolute trust, attracting more and more members and philanthropists to join hands to help the poor. Mrs. Tran Kim Cuc's journey has proven that the love for humanity and the desire for "food and clothing" for her compatriots that Uncle Ho always wished for is the eternal flame that lights up her whole life.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tron-mot-tam-long-de-dong-bao-ai-cung-co-com-an-ao-mac-ai-cung-duoc-hoc-hanh-185251102180229442.htm