The journey of a young entrepreneur rebuilding his life.

Getting up after falling

Following the officers of the Enforcement and Judicial Support Police Team of Nam Dan District Police, we visited the production and business facility of pork sausage owned by Mr. Nguyen Van Huy (born in 1994), in Hamlet 2, Nam Nghia Commune (Nam Dan).

While busily arranging the products, Huy smiled and shared with us, "Thanks to the local government's help and encouragement, I am where I am today." Born into a family with four brothers, after finishing high school, Huy decided not to take the university entrance exam but to stay home and help his parents with their business. In 2015, Huy got married and welcomed several children into the world. Joy continued to grow in that small family.

However, in 2020, due to thoughtlessness and impulsiveness, influenced by friends, the young father violated the law and was sentenced to 16 months in prison by the Nam Dan District People's Court for "Disrupting public order." At that time, Huy's second child was only two days old, and everything seemed to collapse in the young father's eyes. "When the court announced the sentence, I regretted it so much. Because of my impulsiveness, lack of legal knowledge, and seeking revenge to show off to my friend, I had to pay a heavy price. I went to prison, and my wife and child had to be cared for by their grandparents, with so many worries piling up…," Huy confided.

Serving his sentence at Prison No. 6 - Ministry of Public Security (located in Thanh Chuong district), Huy thought his life was over when he entered the prison. He was overwhelmed with guilt and shame towards his family and villagers. However, thanks to the care of the prison management, the timely encouragement of the correctional officers, his family, and above all, his fervent desire to return to his family and wife, he was able to overcome these challenges.

Huy made a diligent effort to comply with the prison's rules and regulations. Thanks to his good behavior, in March 2021, Nguyen Van Huy was released.amnestyHe was released from prison seven months early. Alongside the joy of reintegrating into society, he also worried about being ostracized and disliked. However, upon returning to his hometown, he received care and encouragement from the community, who helped him reintegrate. Gradually, living in the love of his family and the support of his neighbors, the young father resolved to rise above his setbacks, to live a useful life for his family and society, and to strive for legitimate wealth.

Efforts to develop the family economy

Leveraging his family's tradition of producing and selling Nam Nghia pork sausage, Nguyen Van Huy aspired to both maintain his family's business and bring more of the local brand's products to a wider range of regions. Encouraged by his relatives, Huy began researching successful business models in the local area and among friends, and boldly borrowed capital to expand production.

To date, his family's pork sausage production facility has opened two branches, specializing in supplying 4-star OCOP-certified pork sausage and related products to major distributors, supermarkets, and hotels in Nghe An province and neighboring provinces and cities.

Most orders are large, and at times, he has to work overtime to meet customer demand. On average, his facility produces and sells several hundred kilograms of finished products per day, sometimes even more during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year).

Speaking about his business strategy, Nguyen Van Huy shared: “To further develop and expand the scale of our family's production, in addition to pork sausage, I have researched and created many other products such as hot dogs, grilled pork skewers, and fermented pork rolls… to attract more customers. I also apply information technology and use social media to spread the brand, increasing sales and income, while helping more people learn about our local specialty products.”

As someone who "dares to think and dares to act," Nguyen Van Huy not only boldly invested to expand the scale, quality, and diversity of his products, but also created many jobs for local people. Currently, the number of workers employed by Huy's family business has reached over 15 people, with salaries ranging from 10 to 15 million VND per month. Most of the workers live in the area and are either single or in difficult circumstances.

Besides focusing on developing his family's economy, Nguyen Van Huy is also very active in social work and volunteering, helping those in difficult circumstances. "I'm fortunate to have received help from many people to get back on my feet after setbacks, so I want to help and support those who are less fortunate," Huy shared. Among the less fortunate individuals Huy has helped is Que Lam (born in 1998), who has intellectual disabilities and comes from a difficult family background. Seeing Que Lam's hardship, Huy encouraged her and hired her. Under the persistent guidance of the young boss, Nguyen Van Huy, Que Lam, who was initially clumsy and awkward, has now become very proficient in cooking and removing pork sausage from the oven. She works meticulously and carefully and can now complete her tasks without any help.

Speaking with us, Captain Le Trong Tan, an officer of the Enforcement and Judicial Support Police Team (Nam Dan District Police), said: "To facilitate the return of those who have completed their sentences to their localities, we need to provide support."reintegration into the communityEvery year, we organize orientation and career guidance training courses for these individuals. Through these courses, we not only help them find stable jobs to build their lives but also provide psychological counseling and support to help them overcome feelings of inferiority and confidently rebuild their lives. The case of Mr. Nguyen Van Huy is a prime example.

Thanks to his continuous efforts, in October 2022, Nguyen Van Huy was invited to attend the Vietnam Business Culture Forum in Hanoi. There, his pork sausage production facility was honored with a certificate recognizing it as one of the outstanding enterprises nationwide, awarded by the Organizing Committee. Furthermore, in the same year, Huy was selected by the Nam Dan District Police to be recognized as a "Model of Advanced Achievement in Community Reintegration" in the district.

Huy's example has contributed to spreading the image of reformed offenders and building the "All People Protect National Security" movement in the locality. At the same time, it demonstrates the traditional virtue of the nation: "Don't punish those who run away, but don't punish those who return," creating conditions for those who have gone astray to reintegrate into the community.