"Shelter of Love" in Quynh Luu

(Baonghean)One of the outstanding activities of the Women's Union of Quynh Luu district in recent years has been the successful implementation of the "Houses of Love" program, thereby contributing to improving housing for single women in difficult circumstances and helping to ensure social security.

We visited the family of Ms. Nguyen Thi Ban, a single mother raising a young child in Hamlet 2, Quynh Xuan Commune, while neighbors were helping her build a cement yard and alleyway to celebrate the inauguration and handover of her new two-room tiled house. Seeing the small, cozy house, newly built and still smelling of fresh paint, everyone was happy for Ms. Ban and her child. Ms. Ban's family is in particularly difficult circumstances; she suffers from frequent illnesses, has to care for her young child and elderly mother, and their old house, where the three of them lived, had been dilapidated for a long time, but they lacked the money to repair it.

Responding to the movement to practice thrift following President Ho Chi Minh's example to help poor, single, and homeless women, in August 2011, after conducting a survey, the Women's Association of Quynh Xuan commune, in coordination with the district Women's Association, allocated 13 million VND from the "Shelter of Love" fund along with 7 million VND donated by the Fatherland Front of the commune to build a new house for Ms. Ban. Ms. Ban emotionally shared: "My family's circumstances are very difficult. If it weren't for the help of the women's associations at all levels, I don't know when I would have been able to build a house to live in."



Handing over the "House of Love" to the family of Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien (Block 5, Cau Giat Town).

The Women's Union of Quynh Luu District currently has nearly 52,000 members, concentrated in 43 women's associations in communes and towns. Among them, 4,765 are single mothers and heads of households, most of whom face very difficult economic conditions. Over the years, the District Women's Union has carried out many activities and programs to care for, support, and encourage these women to overcome their insecurities and confidently strive for a better life. In particular, in response to the "Houses of Love" campaign launched by the Central Women's Union, the District Women's Union has received positive responses from its members and the support of many businesses and philanthropists. From 2008 to the present, the entire district has built 39 new houses and repaired 36 houses for poor women members and those in difficult circumstances, with a total value of nearly 700 million VND, including 19 "Houses of Love" for single mothers and women without family support. Each time a new home is handed over, it not only brings joy and happiness to the mothers and sisters, but also strengthens the bonds between members and solidifies community spirit.

Speaking with us, Ms. Le Thi Thanh Thuy – President of the Women's Union of the district – said: “Besides building houses, the Women's Union at all levels also creates conditions for women to access loan capital and receive training in science and technology to develop their economy and contribute to poverty reduction. From now until the end of 2012, we strive to build more "Houses of Love," creating conditions for stable lives for single women with particularly difficult circumstances.”

With the spirit of "mutual support," the movement to help single mothers in Quynh Luu district has spread widely. Beyond simply encouraging members to save money to support the construction of "Houses of Love," women's associations at all levels in the district have also undertaken practical and meaningful actions such as contributing labor, providing capital, and supplying seedlings and livestock for economic development, thereby helping women overcome poverty and integrate into the community.

Nhu Thuy