'Neighborhood of Donors' with a new approach to resource mobilization.
(Baonghean.vn) - The residents of Hamlet 5, Nghi Hung Commune, Nghi Loc District, often jokingly call their hamlet "the begging hamlet." This is because in this rural area, to build their homeland, the hamlet's leadership committee doesn't hesitate to "beg" from the people and creatively mobilizes all available resources.
The "trumpet-blowers"
In the teamofficialsIn Hamlet 5, Nghi Hung Commune, there are three key figures considered the most dedicated and hardworking members of the hamlet. Among them, the longest-serving is Mr. Nguyen Dinh Long, who has held this position for 22 years.
Mr. Nguyen Dinh Long and Mr. Bui Van Khanh, Head of the Fatherland Front Committee of Hamlet 5, arrived almost immediately after receiving notification that visitors were coming to tour the hamlet's cultural center. With the proud and detailed introduction from the two hamlet officials, the already spacious cultural center became even more meaningful. Inaugurated in August 2023, the Hamlet 5 cultural center is currently being voted the most beautiful cultural center in the commune, boasting a spacious area, a modern high-voltage timer electrical system, several installed cameras, and a wide, clean, flag-lined road in front of the gate. Next to the assembly hall is a sports playground and garden spanning thousands of square meters, with areas for volleyball and badminton, and brand-new, sturdy outdoor fitness equipment.
However, what impressed us most when we visited this place was the interior of the hall. The first thing that caught our eye was about 150 brand-new wooden stools, all neatly arranged, with a green plastic plaque attached to the back of each stool bearing a name: "Donated by the Thuan Xuan Family"; "Donated by the Toan - Mr. Khoa Family"; "Donated by the Hung (Hoa) Family"... Not only the stools, but also the oil paintings depicting rural landscapes were displayed below.Nghi HungThe items hanging on the walls all bear the names of the families who donated.
Introducing each item of the cultural center in turn, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Long proudly shared: “Besides publicly displaying the spending of donated money on the bulletin board for people to see, we also found ways to convert people's contributions into tangible items. So every item, from stools to stone benches, from murals to statues of President Ho Chi Minh, is associated with a specific individual or group. This detail, though small, has made the people very happy.”
According to Mr. Long, in order to clearly and meticulously track all contributions, the core members of the hamlet are proficient in using computer software such as Word and Excel, even though they are no longer young and have never received formal training courses.
Sharing more about the "mobilization" power of the village officials, Mr. Bui Van Khanh said: "Once we wholeheartedly dedicate ourselves to our homeland, we see opportunities everywhere. We not only mobilize the people living in the village, but also connect with our children who live and work in other provinces and cities, and even enlist the contributions of those living and working abroad. During our recent trip to Phu Quoc, representatives of the village committee visited the homes of our children in Kien Giang province, firstly to offer their support, and secondly to solicit their assistance."
When asked if he felt embarrassed about asking for so much help, Mr. Long smiled and said, "With the mindset of asking for help for the people, we don't feel embarrassed. However, because we ask for so much support, many people jokingly say that Hamlet 5 should be renamed 'the asking hamlet.' That's what they say, but the people in the hamlet understand that we always do what's best for our homeland, always taking advantage of every source of support from programs and higher levels to save as much as possible for the people."
Speaking about the key community leaders in her hamlet, Ms. Nguyen Thi Sinh – Head of the Women's Association of Hamlet 5 – shared: “Whenever there is a project or event, the hamlet's leadership team is always busy and working hard. For example, when building the community center, everyone spent more time at the construction site than at home, sometimes not getting home until 8 PM to eat dinner. After the project was finished, everyone looked noticeably darker and thinner. The allowance was small, the work was heavy, and the hamlet covered a large area with over 1,000 residents. They had to constantly visit and check on everyone. If the workers weren't dedicated, and if their families weren't understanding, they couldn't handle this responsibility.”
Proud to contribute to the common good.
In the construction of the cultural center in Hamlet 5, Mr. Ho Trung Thanh is perhaps one of the most enthusiastic contributors despite being far from home. Although he lives and works in Di An, Binh Duong, he sent back to his hometown a 60kg bronze statue of President Ho Chi Minh and two large sets of tables and chairs for use in the assembly hall. Not only did he support this project, but he also contributed to many other projects in the hamlet, commune, and district, and is always willing to help whenever his hometown needs it.
Having left my hometown, I understand better than anyone the difficulties and hardships faced by my fellow villagers and wish to contribute in a small way. Being far away and unable to participate directly, I place my complete trust in my colleagues back home. And indeed, the village committee has worked with admirable sincerity, enthusiasm, and dedication. They have accepted hardship and sacrifice for the common good. Compared to them, my contributions are very small.
With a mindset of readily contributing to his homeland, Mr. Thanh also shared that the more he contributes, the more he feels that what he has done for his homeland is still very little. Perhaps that is why, when asked about the projects he has helped with, he could not list them all and did not keep any photos to commemorate them.
In the spirit of "those who can contribute more, those who can contribute less, and those who can't contribute their labor," the Hamlet 5 Committee has mobilized all resources from the people. Whenever there is an event or public construction project, the people of Hamlet 5 eagerly participate, each lending a hand, as joyful as a festival, as if they were working for their own families.
The sense of self-discipline among the people in our neighborhood is very high. Any activity that is initiated receives enthusiastic support; no one hesitates or complains. This is due, firstly, to the respect and affection the people have for the neighborhood committee, and secondly, to their pride and desire to build a prosperous homeland. Living in such a community, contributing is not only a duty but also an honor and a source of pride.
Driven by love for their homeland and a spirit of dedication, the activities of the women's associations in the hamlet have become stronger and more united. A prime example is the Women's Association of Hamlet 5. For many consecutive years, the Women's Association of Hamlet 5 has been highly praised by higher authorities for the effectiveness of its "5 No's, 3 Cleanliness" model and its "Turning Waste into Health Insurance Cards" initiative. It has also become a supplier of flower seedlings to communes in the district, generating tens of millions of dong each season.
We highly appreciate the way the Hamlet 5 Steering Committee mobilizes community resources. They are not only creative but also very responsible, dedicated, and transparent in implementing their work. Their approach is now being emulated and implemented by other hamlets in the commune to utilize community resources in building their homeland.
