The story of a young person passionate about volunteering

I met Lo Khanh Khang - Club ManagervolunteerKy Son in a drizzly afternoon with a north wind, the characteristic cold of the mountains and forests of the West became more intense as the afternoon progressed. Lo Khanh Khang had just turned thirty, and had already gone through the journey of studying from a boarding school in the North, then studying medicine in Phu Tho. After graduating and returning to his hometown of Ky Son, Lo Khanh Khang spent two years working at the District Hospital.

Lo Khanh Khang and volunteer group give warm clothes to Ky Son students.

“During the years working there, witnessing with my own eyes many situations and the fate of patients who had to give up on treatment because of poverty and had to suffer disadvantages, I felt a constant torment in my heart, wanting to do something to help the poor” - Lo Khanh Khang confided.

Then, not having the "fate" to be a medical professional, Khang quit his job at the hospital and began his journey to become a doctor.wishHelping the poor since 2014.

The young man with his hands and feet crossed the mountains and forests with determination and enthusiasm, Khang and his friends went to each village, directly met families and people in difficult circumstances to verify the reality, then called on his brothers, friends, and "donors" to help. When he received support, no matter how far away or how windy or rainy, Khang and his friends did not hesitate to immediately bring gifts to those who were waiting.

I asked Khang about the cases he and his group had helped, Khang shook his head and said, "I really can't remember all of them, I only remember the recent ones. Khang remembers the most the circumstances of the children, most of whom are from remote villages, poor and sick. In November 2019, the club called for help for the family of Cu Ba Cu in Pha Xac village, Huoi Tu commune, who was born with a disability, a wheelchair worth 2.5 million VND, a breeding cow worth 8 million VND. They raised tens of millions of VND to help Kha Bun Dan in Xieng Tam village, My Ly commune cure psoriasis that had eroded most of his face for many years; or gave money and a school bag to Ly Ba Cong, an orphan, who excelled in studying in Truong Son village, Nam Can commune...

Hundreds of people in difficult circumstances in Ky Son area have been called upon and helped by Lo Khanh Khang and Ky Son Volunteer Club. Photo: NVCC

In addition to children, many cases of accidents and illnesses were also connected with funding sources by the Ky Son Charity Club, then called for the construction of many charity houses for the poor in Muong Ai, Huoi Tu, My Ly, Ta Ca, etc. Building public houses for teachers and playgrounds for students at two schools in Muong Long and Bao Nam communes.

In Son Ha village, Ta Ca commune, Ms. Vi Thi On, born in 1966 - a person with a congenital disability that makes her legs increasingly atrophied, unable to walk normally, very thin and small. Ms. On lives alone in a dilapidated house, her parents and younger sister have passed away. One day before the Lunar New Year of Tan Suu, Lo Khanh Khang came to visit Ms. On. As soon as she saw Khang coming to the house, Ms. On smiled brightly, earnestly inviting him in to play. The house was newly built, the walls were pure white and the smell of lime and mortar was still strong.

“I was able to live in a new house thanks to Khang and his friends calling for help. Every month I receive nearly 500,000 VND in disability benefits, and the neighbors give me rice and food so I don’t go hungry anymore,” Ms. On happily “showed off”. Khang said that Ms. On’s house was built thanks to a “philanthropist” in Vinh City who sponsored 50 million VND. Khang and the club members paid for other expenses out of their own pocket.

I wondered about the group's personal support, Khang said he went all the way to the North to buy black chickens and brought them back to his small farm in Tay Son commune, hired people to look after and take care of them. Each year he raises about 1000 black chickens, most of the profits are used for charity. Lo Khanh Khang and his wife and 3 young children (two young twins) previously lived with their grandparents in Muong Xen town.

The joy of Ms. Vi Thi On in the new house built through the appeal and connection of Lo Khanh Khang. Photo: Hoai Thu

But then, because of his job as a security guard at the treasury, he often left early and returned late, and his passion for volunteering often affected his family's life. Therefore, Khang and his wife rented a house in Son Ha village, Ta Ca commune, to facilitate their work and passion. The level 4 house that Khang rented was filled with warm winter clothes and items to donate. "This is the amount of winter clothes and shoes worth nearly 10 million VND that the group is preparing to give to poor students and poor people in Nam Can. Most of the members are working, so they have to take advantage of volunteering on their days off and holidays," Khang said.

In 2020, Lo Khanh Khang, Nguyen Van Tu and Ky Son Volunteer Club were honored by the Provincial Youth Union and Ky Son District Youth Union as outstanding young faces for their active community connection activities.

Starting to do volunteer work in 2014, in 2016, Khang was accepted to work as a security guard at the State Treasury of Ky Son district, taking on the role of secretary of the youth union there. In 2014, Khang founded the Ky Son Volunteer Group, in 2016, the group combined with the Ky Son District Youth Union to establish the Ky Son Volunteer Club until now. In 5 years, the club has connected and called for funding sources worth billions of VND, including cash, items, necessities, houses... to help hundreds of poor people overcome adversity.

Young people like Lo Khanh Khang, Nguyen Van Tu... they have quietly turned the spring of their hearts into the spring of many families.