The charity group of the Vietnam Female Journalists’ Club donates a house to former female volunteer youth Pham Thi Mo (Photo: Vietnam Female Journalists’ Club).
Hanoi (VNA) – As a tradition, the charity group of the Vietnam Female Journalists’ Club visits former female volunteer youths living in disadvantaged circumstances each July.
Having spent time in their youth on the battlefield and returning when peace came back to the country, many female volunteer youths suffered incurable physical and mental trauma. Many of them missed the chances of marriage or becoming mothers. This prompts club members to come and meet with those who do not have family support, in an attempt to help ease their difficulties.
A six-year journey of sharing
The first charity trip of the club was a visit to a former female volunteer youth in July 2015 in Thai Binh province, home to around 1,000 of her single comrades and many of them have turned themselves to Buddhism to find peace.
In Vu Thu district, there are more than 400 former female volunteer youths and more than 10 pagodas with nuns who used to be volunteer youths. Journalist Vu Thi Tuyet Nhung, deputy head of the club, still remembered the day when the group visited and presented gifts to female volunteer youths at Van Phuc Tu pagoda in Nguyen Xa commune, Vu Thu district. It is one of the pagodas with more than 10 nuns who are former female volunteer youths.
Photo courtesy of the Vietnam Female Journalists’ Club Khieu Thi Mung is a nun and a wounded volunteer youth. More than four decades ago, she was a volunteer on Trail 20. Now her Buddhist name is Thich Dam Le. She graciously welcomed the group, with both smiles and cries, knowing that she has not been forgotten.
“The image of an old nun standing next to a tree near the mossy pagoda gate is unforgettable. She will never have the happiness of a woman, even just that of Chuc Nu waiting for Nguu Lang every rainy season,” Nhung recalled.
Former female volunteer youth turns to Buddhism to find peace. (Photo: Vietnam Female Journalists’ Club) During the trip that year, the group also visited and presented gifts to more than 30 former female volunteer youths living in need in Vu Thu district, Thai Binh province, each worth about 2 million VND.
The gifts were carefully selected, and each included a pair of first-class conical hats, a soft warm pillow, a special mosquito net and two shirts, besides confectionery and 1 million VND in cash.
Journalist Nhung said bright smiles on old and austere faces of former female volunteer youths injected strength to their charity journey. Following Thai Binh, the trip took the club members to Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Thai Nguyen each July.
Dreams awakened
As a tradition, the group visits former female volunteer youths living in disadvantaged conditions in cities and provinces each July. They came to Quang Binh this year.
Unlike the cases in other years, the group not only offered gifts to former female volunteer youths but also built a new house worth 120 million VND for Pham Thi Mo in Dinh Muoi village, Gia Ninh commune, Quang Ninh district, Quang Binh province. Mo was a volunteer youth of the anti-US war. Nearly 70 years old, frail and sick, yet she still works hard to make a living by selling snacks in the sun, rain and harsh winds in the central region. Little and simple dreams faded in her makeshift and dilapidated house.
The new house will help Mo have a more peaceful and warmer life. (Photo: Vietnam Women's Journalist Club) On behalf of the group, Nhung presented a calendar to Mo on the day they handed over the house and wished that Mo would embark on a new and brighter chapter of life.
The country is now home to about 4,500 lonely veterans who need social support. The trip of the charity group will further reach out to them to awaken their dreams./.
