Spreading the spirit of humanity: When support is no longer a solitary effort.

Joy in Liu Feng

The village of Luu Phong in Tuong Duong commune still faces many difficulties, with more than half of its population classified as poor or near-poor. Out of a total of 224 households, 65 are poor and 55 are near-poor. The villagers' lives mainly depend on slash-and-burn agriculture, particularly the cultivation of high-yield cassava, but prices are volatile, and income is sometimes only enough to sustain livestock farming.

It was in this context that the emergence of a housing support program with a total funding value of up to 1.3 billion VND for Luu Phong village (including livelihoods, education, and housing) brought a new lease of life. This funding came from the appeals and connections of the Fatherland Front and the Red Cross at all levels.

One morning in early May 2026, Ms. Vi Thi No in Luu Phong village excitedly packed her belongings in preparation for the groundbreaking ceremony of her new house. Ms. No expressed: “I never thought I would have a new house to live in, because earning a living every day is already a struggle. Luckily, thanks to the support of the government and various organizations, I received 100 million VND to build a house, so I no longer have to worry every time it rains or storms.”

Ms. Nỏ's new house is planned to be built next to her old one. It's still called a house, but stepping into the place where she's lived for decades reveals her constant worries. The house is made of bright plastic sheets, with a thatched roof that leaks in many places. Her most valuable possessions are a rickety bed, a kitchen, and a few aluminum pots that have turned black from years of cooking.

According to Luu Phong village head Luong Van Tinh, Ms. No's husband passed away a long time ago, and she currently lives alone. Her health is poor, preventing her from doing heavy work. Her only daughter is married and also struggling financially, unable to provide much support. Therefore, for many years, she has lived in a dilapidated and unsafe house. During the storms in May 2025, the roof was blown off and walls collapsed, so she is currently temporarily repairing it with plastic sheets.

Equally difficult is the situation of Mr. Nguyen Van May's family. Nearly 10 years ago, his wife left without a trace, leaving him to raise four young children alone. His suffering is compounded by the fact that three of his four children are disabled. His eldest son had to have one leg amputated in a traffic accident; the other two children have congenital disabilities, with deformed limbs and extreme mobility difficulties.

His family lives on a hilltop, nearly 3km from the production area. Traveling and caring for his disabled children is a major challenge. The lives of the five of them currently depend entirely on support from his wife's family. Upon hearing the news of receiving 100 million VND to build a house, Mr. May couldn't hide his emotion, as this was something he had never dared to dream of in his life.

In addition, the village also faces other particularly difficult circumstances: some families have both husband and wife and children with limited awareness and lacking production skills; some individuals live alone in severely dilapidated houses. With a support of 100 million VND per household, according to Village Head Luong Van Tinh, this is a very valuable resource for families to build sturdy houses, ensuring safety against storms and heavy rain.

Beyond just providing housing assistance, the "Community of Compassion - Connecting with Love" model in Luu Phong village also provides livelihoods for 65 impoverished households and donates bicycles and learning equipment to 84 disadvantaged students. These forms of support not only address immediate needs but also create opportunities for people to gradually improve their lives.

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Leaving the highlands of Tuong Duong, the spirit of humanitarianism continues to spread to Van Kieu commune with the inspiring story of Mr. Nguyen Van Dung's family. Mr. Dung (born in 1980) was the main breadwinner of the family, but unfortunately contracted meningitis, leaving him with severe aftereffects. He now frequently suffers seizures and requires daily medication to maintain his consciousness. All the burdens of the family, including his elderly mother (over 80 years old) and two children (11th and 5th grade), fall on his wife's shoulders, while their income depends solely on a small beverage stall and a candy stand in front of the school.

The family's current home is an old ancestral house with dilapidated walls and a leaky roof. Through the connections of the Provincial Red Cross Society, the Provincial Cooperative Union provided 70 million VND to help the family build a new house. However, due to a shortfall in funds, Mr. Dung is considering selling some of his land to complete the house and build a sturdy home for his elderly mother and children. "Without this support, my family wouldn't even dare to think about repairing the house to live in," Mr. Dung shared.

In recent times, along with traditional fundraising efforts, many businesses have directly participated in humanitarian activities in Nghe An province. In Trung Phuc Cuong commune, VietNam Beverage Co., Ltd. collaborated with the Provincial Red Cross Society to donate disaster prevention and first aid equipment to a school, as part of the company's support package worth over 122 million VND.

According to Ms. Nguyen Luong Hong, President of the Provincial Red Cross Society: “Current support is not limited to fundraising efforts by the Red Cross Society and the Vietnam Fatherland Front, but also extends to connecting individuals, organizations, and businesses to participate directly. This is also the guiding principle for implementing humanitarian work in 2026. At the launching ceremony of the 2026 Humanitarian Month, under the chairmanship of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and the Vietnam Red Cross Society, the funds raised from businesses exceeded 350 billion VND.”

This is also the core objective that Comrade Bui Thi Minh Hoai - Member of the Political Bureau, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and Central Mass Organizations, and Chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front - emphasized in the strategic orientation on humanitarian work in 2026.

Comrade Bui Thi Minh Hoai emphasized that humanitarian work in the new era must be linked to a modern, inclusive, and sustainable social security system. Humanitarianism is not only a tradition but also a measure of civilization, and should become a driving force for social development. Red Cross societies at all levels need to innovate their mobilization methods, promote digital transformation, and ensure transparency in their operations.

Humanitarian Month should not be just a temporary movement, but should become a month of action with specific goals and targets. Red Cross branches at all levels need to develop a force of capable and responsible volunteers who are ready to respond to local emergencies.

From the experience in Nghe An, it can be seen that humanitarian activities are gradually shifting from individual support to a more coordinated and collaborative approach. From new houses in Luu Phong village to timely assistance for disadvantaged families, the spirit of compassion is spreading in a more sustainable way, no longer isolated.