The warm embrace of a 'Godmother'

Providing shelter for those less fortunate.

The late afternoon sun, typical of the early summer days, was quite stifling, making the gloomy atmosphere in the small house in Dien Bien Hamlet, Nghi Huong Ward (Cua Lo Town) even more oppressive. Crossing a sandy courtyard, a characteristic feature of coastal villages, one enters the small house where Hoang Van Phuoc and his aunt sit sadly on the steps, the scent of incense filling the air, adding to the somber mood. Phuoc is in 9th grade this year; his father passed away more than a decade ago. The two brothers were raised and educated by their hardworking mother, a construction worker. Then tragedy struck when Phuoc's mother fell from scaffolding and, after a period of treatment at the hospital, did not survive. She left behind two orphaned children.

Phuoc's aunt said, "His mother passed away just over ten days ago. Phuoc often cries silently alone, missing her so much. I'm heartbroken. I'm married and live in the South, and I rushed back here to take care of my nephew when I heard the bad news, but I can't stay with him for long. Phuoc's older brother had just gone to work in Japan a month before his mother passed away, but he couldn't come home. My sister-in-law left behind two orphaned children and a huge debt from bank loans taken out for her son's overseas employment and house renovations." After saying this, the aunt sighed again, her eyes welling up with tears. Hearing her words, Phuoc sat silently, his sad, vacant gaze fixed on the space thick with the smell of incense smoke.

The Women's Association of Cua Lo town visited and encouraged children with particularly difficult circumstances. Photo: HT

Lighting incense sticks to pay respects to the deceased, Ms. Phung Thi Hanh - President of the Women's Association of Cua Lo town - and other officials from Nghi Huong ward offered encouragement and shared in the family's grief. Since Phuoc's mother passed away, officials from the Nghi Huong ward Women's Association have regularly visited, cared for, and encouraged Phuoc, providing additional support to his uncle's family in caring for him. To help the family, Phuoc received donations from the school and the women's association to buy an electric motorbike for school and pay off a small portion of his bank debt. Every day, Phuoc goes to his uncle's house for meals and then returns home at night to study, alone in front of the altar with its swirling incense smoke. "The association has appealed to a benefactor to support Hoang Van Phuoc with 1 million VND per month until he finishes high school. If he gets into university, the support will continue, further encouraging him to overcome his circumstances and strive for academic success," said Ms. Phung Thi Hanh.

In Cua Lo town, besides Hoang Van Phuoc, there are 14 other cases of orphaned children and students with particularly difficult circumstances who are receiving care and assistance from women's associations at all levels through the implementation of the "Godmother" model. Of these, 7 children have received support ranging from 300,000 VND to 1,000,000 VND per month, while the remaining children are being regularly visited and encouraged by women's associations, which are also connecting with and appealing to philanthropists for sponsorship. For example, the situation of the two sisters Tran The Trung and Tran Thi Uyen Trang in Block 5, Nghi Tan ward. Their father passed away nearly 10 years ago, their mother abandoned them, and they live with their elderly grandparents in a cramped house.

Trung's grandfather, due to poor health, has given up his fishing job for the past three years. Therefore, the lives of the four family members depend on the small fish market stall run by his grandmother, who is already in her seventies. "Because of poverty, Trung's older sister, who is in 10th grade this year, has dropped out of school for the past two days to work cleaning and washing dishes for restaurants along the coast. I'm worried about how we'll be able to provide a proper education for the children," said Mr. Tran Cong Hoang, Trung's grandfather. To encourage him and his two grandchildren, officials from the Nghi Tan ward women's association donated books, some school supplies, and clothes to the two children. They are also actively appealing to and connecting with benefactors to support the children so they can continue their education.

Mr. and Mrs. Tran Cong Hoang, elderly and frail, are raising three orphaned grandchildren who are at school age. Photo: HT

In Quynh Luu district, through the "Godmother" model implemented from the beginning of 2022 to the present, these "second mothers," who are women's association officials, have provided regular emotional support and partial material assistance to 95 children and students with particularly difficult circumstances, mostly orphans who have lost both parents or only one parent, with a total amount of nearly 200 million VND.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai, Head of the Women's Association in Quynh Bang commune, said that the women's association in the 13 villages of the commune has sponsored 13 orphaned children. In addition, the commune's women's association supports one child and has appealed to two benefactors to sponsor two others with 5-6 million VND per year. The sponsorship includes providing health insurance cards, personal accident insurance cards, books, school supplies, and a financial support of 2 million VND per year until the children reach 18 years old. At the same time, the women's association members take turns caring for, inquiring about, and encouraging the children and their families regularly. For example, the case of Dau Thi Tra My, a second-grade student in Van Ly hamlet. Tra My's mother is receiving treatment at the Mental Hospital, and her maternal grandparents are over 70 years old and frequently ill. All living expenses depend on the help of the community. Therefore, Tra My is able to continue attending school.

Humanistic principles

Although the "Godmother" model has only recently been implemented by women's associations at various levels, it has received a positive response from the community. The most enthusiastic participants are the women's association members themselves, as they understand the immense and humane significance of this activity. As mothers with experience in caring for children, they deeply understand the disadvantages and losses faced by orphaned children lacking the warmth and protection of family. For example, in Hung My commune, Hung Nguyen district, Ms. Nguyen Thi Gai, the head of the Women's Association branch, stated that immediately after the initiative to implement the "Godmother" model was introduced, all four branches recognized its practical and meaningful nature, and everyone was determined to make an effort to implement it. Not only the women's associations, but also the villages, hamlets, and small business owners in the commune responded enthusiastically. Each person contributed a little to help fund the sponsorship of 5 orphaned children in Hung My commune. More than 30 children are being sponsored by women's associations, receiving both financial support and care, as well as emotional encouragement to help them strive for a better future.

The Women's Association of Quynh Bang commune mobilized donations to sponsor 14 orphaned students in the commune. Photo: HT

In poor mountainous districts like Ky Son and Tuong Duong, where there is a large number of poor children, children with particularly difficult circumstances, and orphans, the implementation of the "Godmother" model is even more practical and meaningful. However, due to the high living standards of the people in these areas, self-funded support from women's associations faces many difficulties. For example, in Ky Son, the entire district has 81 children with particularly difficult circumstances and orphans who have not yet received support. The Ky Son District Women's Association has only managed to raise funds and sponsor one orphan child in Huu Kiem commune, while the remaining children are still in the process of securing funding. According to the President of the Provincial Women's Union, all district associations have started implementing the "Godmother" model since the beginning of 2022. The associations mainly generate funds through collecting scrap materials and "turning waste into livestock." At the same time, members contribute money themselves and proactively call for and connect with others.philanthropistsFunding.

The "Godmother" model isWomen's UnionVietnam launched the program nationwide at the beginning of 2022. This is a practical and meaningful initiative to respond to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's call for COVID-19 prevention and control, and to participate in the special emulation movement "The whole country joins forces to prevent, control, and defeat the COVID-19 pandemic" launched by the Prime Minister. Initially, the "Godmother" program aimed to mobilize officials, members, organizations, and individuals to participate in the program; to sponsor and support the care and nurturing of orphaned children (initially focusing on those orphaned due to the COVID-19 pandemic) in difficult circumstances, creating conditions for their comprehensive development in a family and community environment.

Women's associations in Cua Lo town and the districts of Quynh Luu and Hung Nguyen collect scrap materials to sell and raise money to support poor and orphaned students. Photo: HT

After the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic were gradually brought under control, in addition to orphaned children whose parents died due to Covid-19, women's associations at all levels continued to implement the "Godmother" model by expanding the scope of support. This included orphaned children who had not received sponsorship or received little support; children orphaned of both parents, orphaned of one parent, without a place to live, or whose caregivers were from poor or disadvantaged families. In addition to fundraising through recycling activities, the associations also mobilized support from organizations, individuals, and organizations both domestically and internationally to directly care for, sponsor, or provide resources for the care and upbringing of these children. From there, the associations at all levels were responsible for monitoring the implementation of policies related to orphaned children in their localities. Members also act as "second mothers," supporting and guiding children and their families to have full access to government policies, especially support in caring for, advising on emotional and mental well-being, and ensuring the safety of children in the family and community environment.

The Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union also emphasized in its guidance to all levels of the organization that when implementing the "Godmother" model, it must be based on the principle of complete voluntariness; respecting the provisions of the law on children's rights. Support must be tailored to the needs of the children. Priority should be given to ensuring children are cared for and nurtured in a family, relative, community, and hometown environment; the source of support and beneficiaries must be transparent and open. In addition, close coordination is needed between the organization where the "Godmother" group or individual is located and the Party committee, government, centers, and grassroots organizations where the children live. With the humanitarian goals of this model, hundreds of thousands of children nationwide, especially orphans, will receive the warmth of love and have a "second mother" to support them in overcoming the harsh storms of life.

Hoai Thu