In their efforts to demonstrate the nation's morality of “Loving others as you love yourself” and "The intact leaves protect tattered ones", many groups across Da Nang are willing to dedicate their time and efforts to help poor people along with disadvantaged students in the city and neighboring localities, thereby spreading love and kindness in society.

Mr. Le Van Luong, 32, a resident of Hoa Minh Ward, Lien Chieu District, whose greatest desire is to bringing happiness to unfortunate people. Therefore, the Chong Chong Tre (Bamboo Pinwheel) 30- member volunteer group was founded in September 2020 by Mr. Luong, and it aims to fulfill his desire to help others and give back to the community. Over the past 3 years, the group has been active in giving back in practical ways through such charitable activities as giving school textbooks and notebooks to disadvantaged children, offering free food to poor people in Da Nang and neighboring localities, along with volunteering in mountainous areas of Quang Nam Province.

Mr. Le Van Luong said: “Every month, the group implements charitable programs across the city with a focus on giving learning tools to poor children, including pens, rulers, textbooks and notebooks, offering free meals to children in local orphanages. The group tries to raise funds for charities through the sale of candy, collecting bottles and cans to be recycled and exchanged for cash, as well as appeals to donors to make financial contributions. Just seeing the smile on the poor’s face is enough to help us remove problems or challenges that may arise during the implementation process of charitable programs."

According to Mr. Luong, his group is also active in helping residents in Tra Cang Commune, Tra Tap Commune, Nam Tra My District, Quang Nam Province where local residents are living under very difficult circumstances. They are too poor to afford food so it is harder for them to afford to pay for their children’s education. Over the past 3 years, his group has donated nearly 300 gifts to Tra Cang and Tra Tap communes, in which, tables, chairs, slippers, hats, crayons, solar lights, water tanks, and water pipes have been donated to local preschools and primary schools while rice, fish sauce, salt, cooking oil, and water pipes have been given to people in difficult circumstances. Each charity trip to these areas costs over VND 50 million.

Besides, the Sao Hy Vong (Hope Star) Volunteer Club has nearly 20 members, and it focuses on providing material and spiritual support for those in difficult circumstances in Da Nang. Since the beginning of 2022, the club has worked with Youth Union organizations of An Trung 28 in An Hai Tay Ward, and Branch 4A in An Hai Dong Ward, both in Son Tra District to open “Zero-dong Bread Cabinet” worth between VND 300,000 and VND 500,000 in total on Saturdays and Sundays, from 8:00 am until 10:00 am in order to allow poor labourers get their breads for free from the cabinet. Till date, the club has brought free bread to those in need throughout Son Tra District.

Mr. Nguyen Gia Quyen , 27, a resident of Nai Hien Dong Ward, Son Tra District, who is the club’s chairman said that the club has raised funds for charity through the sale of pens and roasted sunflower seeds. Anyone who buys a pack of roasted sunflower seeds or a pen from the club is considered to have played a part in helping the needy. The club’s members have a desire to spread the love in the community through giving free bread to the poor.

On August 10, 2023, the Club in collaboration with the Da Nang University of Science and Technology launched a charity program called "Sunshine over Tra Mai" to donate pens, notebooks, textbooks and school bags to poor pupils, as well as give necessities such as clothing, rice, instant noodles, cooking oil, house water filters to poor and near-poor households. More specifically, the club has built a volleyball court, and installed solar lights in the Lang Boc School located in the Village 3, Tra Mai Commune, Nam Tra My District, Quang Nam Province with the aim to promote sports and physical activity among local residents, as well as create a play space for children in Lang Boc village that is safe, fun, and promotes healthy development.

“Helping others and giving back actually makes my life happier. Charitable activities cannot be done alone but we need to do this together. All of us can play our part to lend a helping hand to those in need. Hopefully, more philanthropists will join efforts to make a difference and improve the quality of life for others by giving back to their communities,” remarked Mr. Nguyen Gia Quyen.

Reporting by CHAU ANH – Translating by H.L