Happiness is sharing

(Baonghean.vn) - Coming from conversations on Facebook, blogs and forums on social networks, a group of young people in Vinh City who share the same urge to do charity have made connections in real life. For nearly a year now, that connection has formed the Thien Nguyen group, where kind-hearted people come to many less fortunate fates than themselves, where "hearts beat together, actions are taken together".

The members of Thien Nguyen are called “young people” because although the 7 key members of the group are of different ages, occupations and circumstances, they all share a spirit of youthful enthusiasm and dynamism. Ms. Nguyen Thanh Tu - the group leader, is 37 years old this year. Busy with business and family, for many years now, she has always set aside a separate fund of time to learn about charity activities. During that process, Ms. Tu has “caught the wave” with young people who share the same thoughts and feelings. And so Mai Nhi, Chu Lan Phuong, Pham Tu Oanh… some doing business, some doing art, some busy with young children… from the “virtual world” met in real life, sympathized and joined hands in charity activities.

Representative of the Charity Group gave gifts to encourage Nguyen Dac Lien - a disadvantaged student who is being treated at Nghe An Oncology Hospital.

Ms. Thanh Tu recalls: “The group’s first charity trip was to give Tet gifts to poor and single-parent households in Nghi Kieu commune, Nghi Loc district. The group contacted the local authorities in advance to confirm the list of households that really needed support, then prepared gifts including sticky rice, green beans, some clean old clothes, candy and cash. The first Tet gifts that the group gave were not many, but contained sincere feelings. Up to now, it is still the trip that left the most emotions!”

Tu Oanh, one of the key members of the Thien Nguyen group since its inception, shared: “The most memorable first trip was because before that, everyone had the desire to help the poor and those in difficult circumstances, but they all contributed and supported through different organizations and had never directly made such a trip. Only by going can we know, feel and understand all the miserable lives in society. Looking at their eyes and happy smiles when they unexpectedly received gifts, we felt very moved. The strong impression and experiences of that trip have motivated everyone to organize the next trips.”

Up to now, after nearly 1 year of operation, the Charity group has organized nearly 10 large and small trips and directly supported, helped, and sheltered 10 cases with especially difficult circumstances. From 7 initial members, the group has now developed a volunteer network of up to 50-60 people. The charitable footprints of those sympathetic hearts have been present in many difficult areas of Nghe An province: organizing warm Tet programs for the poor in Nghi Kieu, Nghi Phong (Nghi Loc), coordinating the organization of the Happy Mid-Autumn Festival program at the Center for the Disabled in Nghe An province, supporting Quynh Trang people (Hoang Mai town) after the flood, ...

In addition, the group is currently receiving support to take care of Mrs. Bui Thi Nuoi (82 years old), who is blind from birth, living alone and weak in village 1, Nghi Hung commune, Nghi Loc. Every month, 600,000 VND will be sent to Mrs. Nuoi, ​​partly sharing her extremely difficult life. The hearts send so much love and faith in the good things in this modern society. The only thing the Thien Nguyen group hopes to receive in return, and they have received in nearly 1 year of wandering on all charity paths, is happiness when the love for fellow countrymen is multiplied.

When this article reaches readers, the Thien Nguyen group has just finished the journey of visiting, giving gifts, and helping flood victims in Vu Quang (Ha Tinh) overcome difficulties and improve their lives. Balancing work and family concerns, the group members are busy with the schedule of Thien Nguyen Porridge Pot - a regular activity held at Nghe An Oncology Hospital on the second Sunday of the month. Tu Oanh will be responsible for the ingredients of the nutritious porridge pot. Get up early at 5am, go to the market, and choose the freshest foods. Then the volunteer team will gather to clean, prepare, cook, and season carefully, so that by exactly 10:30am, 300 delicious and nutritious porridge portions will reach those who really need it.

Volunteer Group on the journey to Central Vietnam in 2013 at Vu Quang(Ha Tinh)

Ms. Lan Phuong shared: “The group has signed a commitment to implement the Charity Porridge Pot within 3 years with Nghe An Oncology Hospital with all standards on time, food safety and hygiene, patient service attitude... Each pot of porridge will serve 300 servings, fortunately starting from October, a kind-hearted person who has accompanied Charity from the beginning decided to support 300 breads to eat with porridge. Thus, the poor will be warmer in the coming winter.”

In the stories about Thien Nguyen, there are very few complaints about difficulties. When asked, the group leader Thanh Tu just smiled and said: “There are many difficulties, not just a few. Difficulties in terms of capital to maintain group activities, difficulties in people's thinking barriers, difficulties in arranging the members' activity time... But overcoming all of that, we believe that practical actions will bring goodwill closer together.”

Phuong Chi