Scrap metal and junk in a foreign land!

(Baonghean) - The "scrap metal collecting" profession, also known as the scrap metal purchasing business, has helped many families escape poverty, enabling their children to receive a proper education and achieve a more stable life. Therefore, in recent years, people from Quynh Yen - Quynh Luu have often left their hometowns to seek livelihoods in distant provinces such as Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Ba Ria - Vung Tau through this profession...

At this time of year, in Quynh Yen commune, Quynh Luu district, people have finished harvesting the summer-autumn rice crop. This is also the time when women in the village go to the southern provinces to collect scrap metal.

Women in Quynh Yen commune (Quynh Luu district) making a living collecting scrap metal.

It was late afternoon when we arrived at Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh's house, just as she had returned from the market, stocking up on necessities for her journey to earn a living in a foreign land. Pouring us a cup of water, she confided: "It's all because of our poor family circumstances. Back home, we only have 2-3 acres of rice paddies, barely enough to feed ourselves, let alone save any money. To provide for the family and raise our children, we have to accept leaving home to make a living… I know that leaving my young children at home with my husband is worrying, but if I don't go, if I don't struggle, where will I get the money to make ends meet? So, for the past few years, after the harvest, I've been going to Binh Duong to work collecting scrap metal along with many other women from my village." She recalled her first time there, feeling unfamiliar, in a foreign land, amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, making a living was not easy at all. She missed home, missed her children, felt sorry for herself, and just wanted to return to her hometown… But because of life's circumstances, she had to wipe away her tears, suppress her longing, and work hard every day, saving every penny to send back home to support her children. Initially, she lacked transportation, so she had to collect scrap metal on a carrying pole. Her feet traversed every street and alley in the city, going so far that she couldn't remember the way back to her rented room, sometimes her legs could no longer walk… Her day began at dawn, sometimes at dusk, even at midnight. Her first stop was usually following the city's garbage trucks. They rummaged through piles of trash for recyclable materials, then went to restaurants and grocery stores to find a few empty soda cans to throw away. She diligently weaves her way through every alley and street corner, collecting used items... As she recounts this, she sighs, "The scrap metal business is so hard." Amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, who understands the hardships of these women who tirelessly earn money to support their husbands and children? Looking back on those difficult days, she feels sorry for herself. But thanks to those hard times, she has now acquired some comfortable household items, and more importantly, her children are well cared for and receive a good education. Her face brightens with joy, as if she's forgotten the hardships of the past.

Similarly to Ms. Hanh, Ms. Phan Thi Hoa recounted: "This job is full of sadness, bitterness, and danger to one's life, because you always have to cycle around everywhere, on main roads and small roads, and there are so many vehicles. But if I hadn't worked hard and persevered back then, my family wouldn't be where we are now. All three children have gone to university, the eldest has graduated and has a stable job, and the two younger ones are in their final years of study." Now, Ms. Hoa no longer has the health to go all the way to Binh Duong to collect scrap metal, but she has brought the profession back to her hometown. Every day, on her bicycle, she travels throughout the villages and communes with the familiar cry: "Anyone have aluminum, copper, or scrap iron to sell?"

Currently, in Quynh Yen commune, there are about 50-60 women who work as "scrap collectors," going to the southern provinces to earn a living. Each month, after deducting food and rent, they manage to save about 3-4 million VND. That amount is not insignificant for a rural area. After the harvest season, they return to their scrap collecting business. Each turn of their cart represents hope, each cry represents patience... and the journey of these women's livelihood is filled with hardship and toil. They diligently navigate through alleys and street corners hoping to collect old, unused items from families to resell to dealers for a small profit to support their lives. Although heartbroken at being far from their husbands, children, and homeland; although life in a foreign land is not always smooth; although the scrap collecting profession is fraught with difficulties… these women still cherish the belief that the money earned through their sweat is from honest labor, contributing to a better future. Providing for the family, ensuring the children receive a proper education, and thus having a brighter future…

Text and photos:Hoang Thuy