The closer the Tet holidays gets, the warmer atmosphere is, motivating disadvantaged people and vulnerable groups in society. Activities and programs to give Tet gifts to beneficiaries, support and encourage people having unfortunate circumstances are being continuously done by all levels, departments and unions with a desire to bring a warm and happy Tet to everyone, every home.
Each Tet gift given to the beneficiaries brings joy for a merry Tet holiday.
Spring brings joy
In the days just before Tet, a group of Provincial Day for the Poor’s Campaign Committee visited some social protection facilities in the province. These days, the atmosphere at social welfare facilities becomes warmer and more friendly. Although there are many difficulties, with the attention of all levels, branches, organizations, benefactors, and representatives of establishments said that many delegations visited, encouraged, and gave gifts for these establishments to have more conditions to organize a thoughtful Tet holiday for those who are being cared for here.
Sitting and chatting with the elderly in Provincial Social Protection Center (the facility in An Thanh Ward, Thuan An City), Le Thi Son, 70 years old born in An Giang province, felt sad and wanted to go home, but her house was on fire. When the members of the group gave her a small gift, she quickly held back her emotions so as not to burst into tears. She expressed her gratitude and said that in the past few days, many groups have visited and given gifts to share their sadness, so she feels less homesick.
Nguyen Bao Thanh, Director of Provincial Social Protection Center, said that the center is currently caring for about 250 people, including: lonely and helpless elderly people, homeless people, mentally ill people, children having extremely difficult circumstances, orphans, and disabled children. “Although this year has had many difficulties, the center has received the attention, support, and companionship of all levels, branches, and benefactors to celebrate Tet for vulnerable people here. Even though the gifts are small, this center received large encouragement, thus people here are so cheerful, especially the elderly. The Center will try its best to call for support to organize activities and bring a happy Tet atmosphere for the beneficiaries," Thanh said.
At Thuan An House of Charity, Nguyen Van Hoang - who welcomed the delegation giving Tet gifts to the center, said that this facility is nurturing 81 children with disabilities, orphans, and having extremely difficult circumstances, from 5 to over 30 years old. Receiving the gifts from the delegation, Hoang emotionally said: “This is a very essential source of support. This Tet, the children here have more joy because many organizations and agencies come to visit, wish them happy new year, and send them gifts. This is a source of encouragement for the children to improve their lives, have more funding for education, and the facility also has more conditions to organize a more joyful Tet for the children."
Multiply joy
According to Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh, Chairwoman of Provincial Support Association for People with Disabilities, Orphans and Poor Patients, to take care of, visit and encourage the spirit of households of poor people with disabilities and disadvantaged children, the association has mobilized organizations and individuals to share together. With the sharing heart of sponsors, agencies, and organizations, this year, the association received donations of over 800 million VND, including cash and gifts to organize support activities for people with disabilities, orphans, poor people, near-poor people..., including gift giving activities for Lunar New Year Giap Thin 2024.
Hundreds of poor, near-poor households, and vulnerable groups in society have received practical 2024 Lunar New Year gifts from Provincial Support Association for People with Disabilities, Orphans, and Poor Patients in coordination with Provincial Women Entrepreneurs Association. In addition to nearly 500 Tet gifts sent to beneficiaries, the program also gave means of livelihood to 47 cases. These are overlock machines (each worth 6 million VND), helping those who work in the garment industry but cannot afford a machine, to have the means to somewhat improve their family’s income.
As one of the people receiving livelihood support from the program, Nguyen Thi Kim Cuc in Phu Loi ward, Thu Dau Mot city, said that before, every time she finished cutting fabric, she had to go find a place to sew it. “Now that I have support for an overlock machine, I am very happy because it serves well the work I am doing. With the machine, my work is more convenient, I can save some money and have more income to improve my life," Cuc said.
Practical support from this program is also shown through scholarships to support students from poor, near-poor, disabled, and orphaned households. On the threshold of the spring, every student was very happy as receiving a scholarship of 2 million VND and a gift worth 200,000 VND. Nguyen Thi Xuan Mai from Nguyen Binh Khiem Junior High School (Dau Tieng district), one of 100 students receiving scholarships this time, said: “Every Tet, I receive gifts that help my family celebrate Tet more happily. This year I also received a meaningful scholarship. I will give this money to my mother to take care of me and continue my schooling."
Each gift given is the care, which has sparked warm feelings and given motivation so that needy people, people with disabilities, orphans etc. can have more joy in spring and celebrate Tet.
Recently, the Provincial Day for the Poor’s Campaign Committee organized 2 delegations to visit and give Tet gifts at 12 social welfare facilities in the province. The delegation gave each facility a Tet gift including 20 million VND in cash and a gift worth 5 million VND so that the facilities could organize Tet festival for the beneficiaries.
Reported by Hong Thuan - Translated by Ngoc Huynh
