A resilient veteran from a religious community.

(Baonghean.vn) - In 1983, after leaving the army and returning to his hometown, veteran Nguyen Phi Long, from Ha Nguyen parish, Quynh Hong commune, Quynh Luu district, embarked on a new life facing countless difficulties.

Starting with familiar tasks for laborers in the low-lying areas, such as cutting earth to build embankments and dikes, and building boats... After struggling with various trades, he realized that Quynh Hong lacked a civil engineering cooperative. People building houses had to hire workers from other districts, even though the local labor force was abundant. With his basic knowledge of construction from his time as a combat engineer, he decided to take a basic civil engineering course. After the course, he established a construction cooperative of 15 people. Initially, he undertook the construction of small and medium-sized irrigation and transportation projects in the district, accumulating experience and capital as he went along.

From a small group of 15 workers, the company now consistently employs 40 long-term contract workers and technicians, including 4 with university or college degrees; 70 seasonal contract workers; nearly 20 cars, tractors, and excavators; a multi-story office building; a total production capital of nearly 10 billion VND; and equipment and machinery valued at over 5 billion VND. Remarkably, among the 40 long-term contract workers, many are orphans and homeless children whom the owner has taken in, providing them with vocational training; and children of war invalids, martyrs, and veterans.

All employees are covered by social insurance, health insurance, and personal accident insurance, with an average monthly income of 3.5-4 million VND per person. In his work, he always prioritizes integrity and product quality, thus building the company's reputation and attracting more and more clients and organizations to sign contracts. Besides providing regular employment for workers, the company also creates jobs for hundreds of local workers in the areas where it operates.

Every year, the company pays 200-300 million VND in taxes to the State and actively supports the Fund for the Poor, the Education Promotion Fund, builds solidarity houses for poor households in the district and localities where the company has construction projects, and contributes to the charitable activities of the church. Nguyen Phi Long himself has been repeatedly commended by the People's Committee of Quynh Luu district as an exemplary businessman, received commendations from the People's Committee and the Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province, and was honored to be a delegate to the 3rd Conference of Exemplary Advanced People in the Catholic community of Nghe An province (2005-2010), and was selected to attend the National Conference of Exemplary Advanced People.

Furthermore, veteran Nguyen Phi Long actively participates in social activities, serving as a member of the District Fatherland Front Committee, a representative of the People's Council of Quynh Hong commune, and Vice Chairman of the Pastoral Council of Ha Nguyen parish. Sharing his thoughts with us, he said: "Having been a soldier, I understand and want to share the difficulties with my comrades. For a devout Catholic, it is necessary to love the country and to be responsible for helping others. 'A good Catholic is also a good citizen.'"

Phung Ngoc Thang