Elderly women set a good example

Compassionate

Late afternoon, in a small house in residential area 17, Ngoc Chau ward (Hai Duong city), Ms. Mai Thi Hai Vuong is still diligently knitting warm hats to give to children in the highlands. At the age of 84, her hands and feet are no longer as agile, her eyes are not as sharp as before, but she still knits diligently. For nearly ten years, this has been her familiar job. Every month, she deducts 1 million VND from her small pension to buy wool. Just like that, thousands of warm hats filled with love have been sent by her to many children in the highlands.

Ms. Vuong shared: “Seeing children who do not have enough to eat or wear warm clothes, I cannot hold back my tears. In the past, when we were still healthy, we bought new clothes, donated old clothes, and carefully arranged them to give to poor children and children in difficult areas. Now that my health is not as good as before, I still knit hats to give to children in the highlands. Hopefully, the warm hats will help the children to ease the cold in the cold winter.”

At the age of 78, Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong in Phu Thu ward (Kinh Mon) is still passionate about volunteer activities. She has donated hundreds of warm blankets, fans and many household items to poor families. In particular, in 2020, when the Covid-19 epidemic broke out, she mobilized her children to donate more than 60 million VND to households in difficult circumstances. During holidays and Tet, she always supports poor and near-poor women and orphans with practical gifts...

Ms. Hoang Thi Le, President of the Women's Union of Phu Thu Ward, said: "Not only is Ms. Phuong kind and tolerant, she also actively participates in social work. She often encourages women around her to participate in cultural, artistic, physical education and sports movements in the locality. She is a typical example of local charity work."

Sow the seeds of goodness

For Ms. Hoang Thi Tu (61 years old) in Han Xuyen residential area, That Hung ward (Kinh Mon), doing charity work is also her way of "leaving blessings" for her children and grandchildren. Therefore, for many years now, Ms. Tu and her husband have not been afraid of difficulties and hardships to "sow" the "seeds of goodness".

Every year, Mrs. Tu and her family prepare Tet gifts to give to disadvantaged families in the ward, repair houses for the poor, and support activities of socio-political organizations in the area. During storm No. 3 alone, Mrs. Tu's family supported 1.5 tons of rice worth 30 million VND to 150 disadvantaged families in the ward; donated many necessities, and provided electricity for the force on duty guarding the dike near her house. In particular, she sponsored Nguyen Thuy Duong, a child with extremely difficult circumstances in the ward for 5 years. In addition to supporting 500,000 VND/month, on special occasions such as the beginning of the school year or Lunar New Year, she always has meaningful gifts to encourage Thuy Duong to study and improve in life. In the past 5 years, Mrs. Tu's family has spent over 200 million VND on charity activities.

Mrs. Tu said: “Life is getting better and better, my children are all grown up, but I never forget the hard days, so I sympathize with the poor. We want to contribute a little bit of our strength to help the poor have the will to rise up in life. More importantly, I want to sow the “seeds” of goodness in my children and grandchildren. My husband and I’s charitable activities are supported by our children. All the money for charity comes from the children’s support.”

Over the years, the elderly in general and elderly women in particular in Hai Duong have always affirmed their core role in patriotic emulation movements and campaigns launched by associations at all levels and localities. In particular, the Provincial Women's Union has paid attention to directing the organization of activities specifically for elderly women to care for and promote their role in the family and community. Recently, the whole province has 65 outstanding elderly women who have been recognized nationwide in building a cultured, prosperous and happy family. Among them, there are many shining examples of the kindness of modern women. Their practical actions have created a beautiful image of Vietnamese women.