For more than 10 years, Ms. Truong Thi Nhu Hoa, Head of the Office of People with Meritorious Contributions to the Nation's Revolutionary Cause under the Da Nang Department of Labour, Ward Invalids and Social Affairs, cum leader of a professional social work group, has been actively giving a helping hand to hundreds of people in difficult circumstances.

Ms. Truong Thi Nhu Hoa (right) giving a gift to a poor family in Thanh Khe Tay Ward, Thanh Khe District

Ms. Hoa is always busy every day. After finishing work at the office, she is seen preparing essential goods and gifts for the poor and needy people, or appealing for donations from generous donors to support those in need.

Bringing essential goods to the poor

Ms. Hoa is the leader of a Da Nang-based professional social work group. The group was established in 2020 when Da Nang braced for waves of COVID-19 infections.

The group now has more than a dozen members who are teachers specialising in social work and psychology, and are employees of departments of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs at all levels.

The group’s first project was 'Zero dong' supermarket model. Accordingly, each visitor to the supermarket is allowed to choose and buy some products on supermarket shelves for zero dong. After successfully operating in Thanh Khe and Hai Chau districts, the model was expanded into other districts in the city.

During the year, the group teamed up with the city's Labour Culture House, the Viet Dream Organization, the Central Region Representative Office of the Agribank and other sponsors to carry out the ‘Zero dong gifts - love connection" programme.

In just two days, August 14 and 15, a combined total of 700 gifts, each consisting of rice, dried fish, cooking oil, vegetables and instant noodles, promptly went to workers in the Lien Chieu, Da Nang and Hoa Cam industrial parks, along with the disabled and the poor in Thanh Khe, Lien Chieu and Son Tra districts before the city’s ‘stay-at-home’ order.

Rescuing farm produce, helping unfortunate children

Most notably, Ms Hoa was actively involved in appealing for support from the Volunteer Vehicle Team under the Hoa Vang District Red Cross Society and the Da Nang Pickup Truck Club to transport vegetables from Hoa Vang District to residential groups who were in short supply of vegetables during the city’s ‘stay-at-home’ period.

In 7 odd consecutive days of September, more than 5 tonnes of vegetables were delivered to needy households citywide.

Most recently, Ms Hoa and members of the Da Nang Pickup Club have visited and presented gifts to 35 families who have lost multiple loved ones to COVID-19.

During that visit, Ms. Hoa knew the plight of 4 children and 2 teenagers whose parents had died of COVID-19. Then, she thought it was necessary to do something to help such subjects and, as a result, the ‘Alleviate the sadness of COVID-19’ programme was born.

Currently, Ms Hoa and her team members are making plans to provide active support for disadvantaged children.

Aside from Da Nang, Ms. Hoa, together with some partners and sponsors, have provided free medical checkups and medicine for poor people in a remote mountainous area in Tra Van Commune, Nam Tra My District, Quang Nam Province.

No matter what positions she is involved in, Ms. Hoa always does her utmost to complete the jobs well. She and other club members have made great contributions to turn the Da Nang Social Work Centre into one of the units to be eligible to pilot ‘social work service’ models in Viet Nam.

Reporting by PHUONG TRA - Translating by M.D