The effectiveness of the "Shelter of Love" movement.

(Baonghean) Implementing the "Houses of Love" campaign launched by the Vietnam Women's Union, from 2009 to the present, women's associations at all levels in Nghi Loc district have focused on building many homes, contributing to bringing joy and happiness to poor women members.

Visiting the family of Ms. Pham Thi Binh in Tien Lac hamlet – one of the single, disabled women in difficult circumstances who recently received 15 million VND from the Nghi Xuan Commune Women's Association to build a "House of Love" – Ms. Binh couldn't hold back her emotions in her new, spacious home: "Without the timely encouragement and care of the women, especially the commune's women's association, my children and I wouldn't have been able to overcome the difficulties and hardships of everyday life..."

Ms. Pham Thi Binh, a single mother from Tien Lac hamlet, Nghi Xuan commune, Nghi Loc district, received support from the "Shelter of Love" program.

Through Ms. Dinh Thi Hanh - President of the Women's Association of Nghi Loc district, we learned that the campaign to build "Houses of Love" to help poor women, single mothers, and women with particularly difficult circumstances is receiving special attention from all levels of the Women's Association in Nghi Loc district.

Through propaganda and mobilization efforts aimed at understanding the thoughts and feelings of women, the campaign received enthusiastic support from a large number of cadres and members. In addition, the association actively mobilized businesses and philanthropists to contribute financially. Branches assigned targets for building "shelter homes" also encouraged members to contribute additional labor and funds to help. Based on the spirit, responsibility, and compassion of the women, the Women's Union of that district boldly developed a plan to strive to build 1-2 "shelter homes" each year from the donated funds.

Over the past two years of implementing the "Shelter of Love" campaign, the entire district has raised 72 million VND for building and repairing houses for women in extremely difficult circumstances. In 2011 alone, the District Women's Union supported the construction of one shelter of love for the family of Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh - Hamlet 9, Nghi Kieu commune, worth 15 million VND; the Women's Union of Nghi Thach hamlet donated one shelter of love to Ms. Nguyen Thi My (Hamlet 9, a Catholic woman with a disability) with nearly 12 million VND; and the Women's Unions at all levels in the district supported and repaired 25 houses with a total of 37 million VND and 250 man-days of labor.

However, currently, there are still many poor women and single mothers in difficult circumstances in the district, many of whom urgently need housing support. Recognizing this reality, in 2012, the District Women's Union continued to launch a widespread movement among women to build and repair houses for poor women. Besides the efforts of the Women's Union at all levels and the contributions of its members, the support of the entire community is also crucial.

Thanh Thuy