The Fund For the Poor is one of the most important resources in ensuring that social welfare programs are available for those most in need. Da Nang’s Fatherland Front committees at all levels have been active in raising funds from organizations, businesses and individuals since the beginning of 2023.

Representatives of Hai Chau District’s Thanh Binh Ward Chapter of the Da Nang Fatherland Front Committee presented gifts to poor households for the Lunar New Year 2023. Photo: M.T

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong, the Chairwoman of Hai Chau District’s Thanh Binh Ward Chapter of the Da Nang Fatherland Front Committee said that there are currently 97 poor households and 54 near-poor households in the ward. By the end of the year, the ward strives to lift 40 poor households and 20 near-poor households out of poverty in a sustained way. As of the end of the first quarter of 2023, the organization had raised VND 377 million for the Fund For the Poor while target carried VND 350 million.

The Ward has used raised money to repair 10 houses, build 1 new one, and provide livelihoods support for 4 disadvantaged households. Besides, the ward has organized 10 zero-dong fairs to give 2,540 gifts worth more than VND 150 million in total to support college students and school pupils from poor families since the beginning of the year.

Mrs Le Thi Bich Tram, the Chairwoman of Hai Chau District’s Hai Chau 1 Ward Chapter said that a total of over VND 251 million has been so far this year raised for the fund to support the poor. In which, 70 million VND has been spent on organizing the "Spring of Love" program to give 140 gifts to poor and near-poor households, and along with disadvantaged households. In its first phase, the ward used raised money to repair downgraded houses for two poor households at a total cost of VND 40 million, provide capital support totaling VND 9 million for three others, and provide livelihoods support worth VND 9 million VND for another one. Furthermore, the ward chapter has worked with its member organizations to call on units, businesses, and sponsors to donate 348 gifts and 1 ton of rice worth  VND 119.5 million in total for needy households.

Mrs Tran Thi Thuy Ha, the Vice Chairwoman of the Hai Chau District Chapter remarked that the district has raised over VND 3.9 billion for the Fund For the Poor so far this year. In the first quarter of 2023, VND 740 million from the Fund went to build 4 new houses and repair 27 others for the poor.

“The effective fundraising and use of the Fund for the Poor play an important role in poverty eradication. The Fund will help and motivate people to escape poverty and improve their living conditions. In the coming time, the District’s Front Committees at all levels will boost their fundraising efforts to support the poor in an attempt to achieve this year’s target of more than VND 5 billion, "said Mrs. Ha.

In a similar move, 5 wards of Lien Chieu District have focused on regularly identifying poor and near-poor households according to the city's new poverty lines in order to organize dialogues with them, as well as provide livelihoods support for those in need, and promote the implementation of effective poverty reduction models across the district.

Mr Nguyen Van Trung, the Chairman of Hoa Khanh Bac Ward Chapter said that in addition to supporting the poor to build and repair their houses, the Ward has provided livelihoods support, including sugarcane juice carts and vegetable stalls, for the needy so that they could run their own business in order to help them generate stable income.

"As of late April 2023, the Ward had raised a combined total of VND 266 million for the Fund For the Poor. With its high determination, the Ward will strive to exceed this year’s target of fundraising for the poor”, added Mr Trung.

Mrs Pham Thi Hong Hanh, the Chairwoman of Lien Chieu District Chaper said that the District has raised more than VND 1.9 billion for the Fund For the Poor. Lien Chieu District is a densely populated area where many poor people are living. Hence, effective fundraising for the poor will bring benefits to them as it will help stabilize their lives.

Since the beginning of the year, the District has built 4 new houses and repaired 3 others for the needy at total cost of VND 200 million, given financial assistance to 19 poor pupils with each receiving VND 1 million in cash, as well as offered 1,916 gifts totaling VND 964 million to the poor and needy people for the Lunar New Year 2023, and more.

“In order to ensure effective fund raising for the poor, the District has focused on calling for active involvement of agencies, units and local residents in poverty reduction, as well as promoting a consensus forming across the locality, hereby spreading the spirit of caring, sharing and support people in need, as well as joining hands with the municipal government to achieve the city’s goal of poverty reduction set for 2023,” remarked Mrs. Hanh.

Reporting by NGUYEN QUANG – Translating by H.L