The moon of love finds a difficult life

“Mid-Autumn Dream” is a collaboration between Red Scarf Publishing Group (Tuoi Tre Newspaper) and other organizations to bring Mid-Autumn joy to many disadvantaged children – Photo: K.ANH

“The gift bag is too heavy, I have to ask my mother to carry it home, I will give this lucky money envelope to my mother to buy school supplies. This Mid-Autumn Festival, I am so happy because there are lots of candies and lanterns” – Tri Bao (8 years old) excitedly shared when he was present at the program “Moon for you” 2024. The program was organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union, the City Council of Young Pioneers, the People's Committee of Binh Tan District and other units for 500 children who have overcome difficulties to study well, are disabled, and are children of workers who live in rented houses.

I've been craving mooncakes for a while now.

Tri Bao looked at the lantern, turning on and off the LED light inside with interest. Flipping the moon cake box back and forth, he smiled: "I've been craving moon cakes for a long time. Many times my mother drove me home from school and passed by shops selling moon cakes that looked delicious, but I didn't dare ask my mother to buy them because I knew she didn't have much money."

Tri Bao and his brother both received gifts this time. Both parents are factory workers, but now their mother has lost her job, making the family even more difficult. All living expenses for the family of four, as well as the rent and education of the two children, depend on their father's factory worker salary, making things even more difficult.

As for Nguyet Hang (grade 5), the happiest thing was enjoying the performances and seeing famous singers and beauties perform at the program.

“I have only watched on TV, but now I am so happy to see the singers in person, and I was also given lots of candy and milk. I will give my money to my mother to save to buy notebooks for school. I have never been so happy as today” – the child giggled.

The program "Moon of Love" was organized by Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union in coordination with the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the City, Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs at many locations.

More than 1,400 gifts (VND 400,000/gift) have been prepared for children at social protection facilities, children in special circumstances, and children of workers in the city.

Meanwhile, many establishments also have Mid-Autumn Festival programs for children in residential areas and boarding houses. Many volunteer teams and groups also bring candy, lanterns, scholarships, bicycles, etc. to children in remote areas and border areas on this occasion.

In particular, from Ho Chi Minh City, the Y Tam group brought the program "Lighting up the lanterns" to the children of Dak Nong province with gifts and more than 1,000 lanterns made from cans and lit with sparkling candles made by volunteers themselves.

Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union Ngo Minh Hai presents gifts to visually impaired children in the program "Moon for Children" in Binh Tan District (Ho Chi Minh City) - Photo: K.ANH

Each Mid-Autumn gift, although not large, is the heart, care, and sharing of society and community, sent with the wish that the children will always be happy, loved, and have a meaningful full moon season.

Mr. NGO MINH HAI (Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union)

The joy of taking baby steps

More than 850 children from districts, Thu Duc City and social organizations in Ho Chi Minh City celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival with delicious lunch and free games at a shopping mall in District 7.

This is part of the more than 1,800 children participating in the "Mid-Autumn Dream" program organized annually by the Red Scarf Publishing Group ( Tuoi Tre Newspaper) in collaboration with the Social Charity Committee (Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Ho Chi Minh City) and the Sharing group of Ms. Mai Thi Hanh (wife of formerPresident Truong Tan Sang).

The children eagerly participated in quizzes with Uncle Cuoi and watched magic shows. Many people present were moved when listening to the stories of the children who went to school, sold lottery tickets, and helped serve noodles to earn extra income to support their dreams of going to school and supporting their families.

The image of Yen Vy (grade 3) taking her first steps stands out. Throughout the journey, her mother has been by Vy’s side to help her with her physical therapy efforts over the past months, with 23 million VND in expenses supported by the Sharing group.

The story originated from Vy's innocent sharing of her dream of walking on her own two feet so that her mother would not have to carry her to school anymore at the program "Tet for Children" earlier this year.

That statement touched many members of the Sharing group. And they decided to support money to help the girl go to the hospital and do physical therapy. Although it was just the first steps, only short steps, it lit up a ray of hope in Vy and her mother after so much effort and perseverance in practicing. That was also everyone's joy.

I wish you always happy and loved

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union Ngo Minh Hai shared that Mid-Autumn Festival always becomes more special when seeing the innocent smiles of children because that is the greatest happiness we always want to bring.

Mr. Hai said that activities to accompany and care for children on the occasion of Mid-Autumn Festival and the opening of the new school year are always organized by the Youth Union - Association - Pioneers at all levels in the city with rich content and diverse forms, attracting the participation and response of many people. Through each activity, it has contributed to propagating, educating, promoting traditional values, good messages, and love to children.

At the same time, continue to act as a bridge connecting social resources, the support and active companionship of units and philanthropists in meaningful activities, contributing to taking care of the city's youth, creating conditions for them to study, practice fully, and participate well in children's movements such as the theme of the 2024-2025 school year's Team work "City's children obey Uncle Ho's teachings - Proud of tradition - Following in the footsteps of their fathers and brothers".

3 billion VND for "Mid-Autumn Festival of Dreams"

In addition to the Mid-Autumn Festival in Ho Chi Minh City, the 2024 “Mid-Autumn Dream” program also comes to disadvantaged children in Long An and An Giang. The total cost of the program is nearly 3 billion VND, for 1,800 children.

Each gift includes a lucky money envelope worth 500,000 VND and gifts worth 700,000 VND (candy, milk, lanterns, moon cakes). In addition, 50 scholarships (1 million VND/scholarship) were given to students with special difficulties, and medical treatment costs were supported for 85 sick children.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vang-trang-yeu-thuong-tim-den-manh-doi-kho-20240916101854874.htm