Here is an inspiring story from 63 year-old Nguyen Van Day who has been actively contributing to his communities. Mr. Day is now the Head of the Farmers' organization and the Deputy Head of the Veterans' organization, and the group leader of the Residential Group No. 22, Phuoc My Ward, Son Tra District, Da Nang.

Mr. Day joined the military in 1978 at the age of 18. He enlisted as a Vietnamese volunteer soldier to help Cambodian armed forces and Cambodian people defeat the Pol Pot reactionary group, liberate Phnom Penh, abolish the genocidal regime, and rebuild a new society for the Cambodian people.

He moved back to his hometown in Da Nang to become a professional fisherman after the service.

Since 1984, Mr. Day has got involved in social work, and he has acted as the leader of his residential group.

In 1999, responding to an appeal made by the city’s leaders, he was the first to join the rescue team at Da Nang’s beaches, serving as the Deputy Dead of Management Board of this team.

Regardless of the position he held, Mr. Day tirelessly worked to excel in each of his assigned tasks. Yet perhaps it is his voluntary work and social activities that truly highlight the character of a soldier-turned-civilian who is willing to dedicate his time and efforts to help others, and serve the community in times of peace.

During the harrowing days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sight of citizens struggling to afford enough food haunted Mr. Day. He lost sleep over how to alleviate their suffering. Spearheading an initiative, he called on kind-hearted individuals to contribute food, cash, and other necessities to help those in need.

His list of planned distributions spanned three pages in his work diary, detailing aid that ranged from small gifts to tons of rice intended not only for the residents of My An 2 residential area but also for those across the district, even reaching the remote commune of Tr'hy in Area 7 in Tay Giang district, Quang Nam Province.

Over three years of his relentless social welfare efforts, Mr. Day has called for financial support worth nearly VND 120 million in total from individuals and organizations to support people in difficult circumstances.

A particularly touching example is Mr. Nguyen Van Long who faced a heartrending situation when his wife, the main breadwinner in his family, suffered a serious road accident.

The accident left her bedridden for the rest of her life, and her family's income came to a sudden halt. Mr. Long’s family was overwhelmed, uncertain of how to cope with such a crisis. With fundraising efforts of Mr. Day, nearly VND 6 million was raised from donors to help Mr. Long’s family get through hard times.

“I have been haunted by the plights of poor families. There are many cases that simply looking at them fills me with an immense sense of compassion. That's what drives my determination to seek financial support to help those in need. And once I'm determined, I make sure it gets done," expressed Mr. Day.

His initial concern gradually became familiarity, eventually turning into a passion for volunteer work. What brings him joy is the support of his wife and children, who not only provide moral backing but also assist materially with his charitable activities.

"Every time I prepare for a charity trip, my wife and children contribute money, prepare everything, and help me organize the items."

Cash and material donations from generous individuals have been used as gifts which have been offered to disadvantaged families. The act of giving each gift multiplies the joy in Mr. Day, an exhilaration he find overwhelming.

"Some nights, I can't sleep because of the persistent happiness. It's a small thing, but it brings me great pleasure," said Mr. Day.

Mr. Day’s wife is Mrs. Tran Thi Dieu who was honoured as one of Da Nang’s most outstanding farmers in 2022 by the Da Nang City Farmers' Association. Mr. Day remarked that although her wife is a frugal person, when it comes to a charitable program, a mere call to action is all it takes for his wife's immediate support.

Reported by TRONG HUY – Translated by THAO TRANG