Collect scrap materials, share love.

Learn from the simple things

In recent years, many families in Block 1, Quan Bau Ward, Vinh Hung Commune, have been using three garbage bags to proactively sort household waste into biodegradable, solid, and recyclable materials. Biodegradable and solid waste are taken to a collection point for daily transportation.

As for waste materials such as cardboard, cans, plastic bottles, paper, etc., families collect them and bring them to the community center at the beginning of the following month for collection as part of the "Bags of Compassion" program launched by the women's association.

As the head of the Women's Association, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tinh not only sets a good example but also actively encourages other women in the association to participate in collecting scrap materials. Thanks to her efforts, the association collects nearly 1 million VND each month. This money is used to visit and support members and those facing difficulties and hardships.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Lien, head of the "Charity Trash Bags" Club, said that the club was established in 2018 with the goal of contributing to building a green, clean, beautiful, and civilized neighborhood environment and helping those in difficult and unfortunate circumstances. Every month, members collect and sort waste, and bring recyclable materials to the community center for collection.

These scrap materials are sold to recycling facilities, with the proceeds used for charitable and humanitarian activities such as supporting the sick and needy, helping orphans, and providing free porridge for dialysis patients at Vinh City General Hospital (facility 2).

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tinh, Head of the Women's Association of Block 1, Quan Bau, the association has over 260 members, divided into 7 groups. Since the "Charity Trash Bag" Club started operating, the awareness of environmental hygiene and the spirit of sharing among members and their families have been increasingly enhanced. As a result, streets and alleys are cleaner and more beautiful, and more underprivileged people have received attention and assistance.

In Block 7, Quan Bau, the women's association regularly maintains a movement to collect scrap materials to raise funds for charitable purposes. Association leader Nguyen Thi Tu Oanh is one of the most active in mobilizing members to participate. Through association meetings and friendly conversations in the residential area, she persistently promotes the understanding that sorting waste at source not only contributes to environmental hygiene but also creates additional resources to help those around them.

What is valuable about this model is that charitable activities don't begin with large donations, but are nurtured through self-awareness and perseverance in daily life. Each person contributes a little recyclable material, each family dedicates a portion of their effort, and from these small acts, the care and support among the residents of the neighborhood are increasingly multiplied.

In 2025, the branch collected nearly 20 million VND from this activity; from the beginning of 2026 until now, the amount collected has reached nearly 15 million VND. The funds are used to give gifts to dialysis patients, orphans, and people in need.

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From 2025 to the present, revenue from scrap collection activities at 26 branches in the ward has exceeded 358 million VND. Through this, they have sponsored 4 orphaned children, visited sick and ailing members, provided livelihood support to one member with particularly difficult circumstances, and donated 180 gifts to poor but academically excellent students.”

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh - President of the Women's Union of Vinh Hung Ward

Give love, build bridges.

From Vinh Hung ward, we traveled to Do Luong commune and visited the Women's Union Branch 2, one of the units actively implementing the "Green House - Turning Waste into Money" model launched by the Women's Union of the commune. Ms. Doan Thi Huong, the branch leader, said that for many years, the branch has mobilized its members to collect scrap materials, which are then gathered at the community center at the end of the month to be sold and used to raise funds to support poor children.

From the funds raised through the sale of scrap materials, since the beginning of 2026, the Town 2 Branch has sponsored two children in extremely difficult circumstances. These are Duong Duc Huy (born in 2018), an orphan whose mother passed away and whose father suffers from a serious illness; and Nguyen Dinh Dang (born in 2022), whose parents divorced and who currently lives with his elderly grandparents who have no income.

The branch also organized gift-giving for orphaned and disabled children in the area on the occasion of International Children's Day (June 1st), contributing to encouraging the children to overcome difficulties and strive for a better life.

Beyond just immediate gifts or support, the "Green House - Turning Waste into Money" model is gradually becoming a bridge of sharing, spreading the spirit of mutual support and compassion within the community. To date, the model is maintained in nearly 20 branches in Do Luong commune, generating funds to support 101 poor women, women with disabilities, and those in particularly difficult circumstances in the area.

A highlight of the model is the connection between environmental protection activities and the "Godmother Program," aimed at providing long-term care for orphaned children. The association has reviewed over 100 orphaned children, building a database to develop appropriate support plans. Through the "Turning Waste into Money - Fulfilling Dreams for Orphaned Children" program, the organization directly provides long-term sponsorship for 10 children, with a total budget of 108 million VND.

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The "Green House" model transforms seemingly discarded items into sustainable social welfare resources. When people see that the money from selling scrap materials is used to support those in need within the community, they participate with a high sense of self-motivation and responsibility. In the future, we will continue to expand this model to all branches, determined to ensure that no one is left behind.”

Ms. Nguyen Thi Loi - President of the Women's Union of Do Luong Commune

From Vinh Hung ward to Do Luong commune and many other localities, models of collecting scrap materials to raise funds for charity are demonstrating the effectiveness of linking environmental protection with social welfare activities. Each place has its own method and name, but they all start with familiar things in daily life: sorting waste at source, collecting scrap materials, and dedicating the proceeds to help people in difficult circumstances.

Beyond their material value, each gift conveys care and encouragement, making the recipient feel that they are not alone on their journey to overcome adversity.

From sorted garbage bags in each household to charitable donations, these initiatives have contributed to preserving the living environment and spreading kindness. When each member and each citizen contributes a small part, these simple actions create practical value, making village streets cleaner and more beautiful, and fostering ever-warm human relationships.