Tet Charity - not just gifts

Humane ecosystem

At the end of December 2023, for the first time, Tu Ky district coordinated with Hai Duong Red Cross Society to organize the "Humanitarian Tet" program for the spring of Giap Thin 2024. The program brought many meanings to more than 300 households in difficult circumstances.

Coming to the program, they not only receive gifts from sponsors but also participate in many practical activities.

Mr. Pham Van Tam (79 years old, in Dai Son commune) was very excited to attend the above program. Stepping into the gate of the district People's Committee hall (where the program was held), he immediately felt the Tet atmosphere and warmth. The Tet space was expressed through models of peach trees, apricot branches, food stalls, green Chung cakes... Mr. Tam and hundreds of poor people in the district were warmly greeted, welcomed by Red Cross volunteers, taken to see art performances, received gifts, free haircuts, received calligraphy to hang at home during Tet... "Gifts are just a small part, what makes us happiest is being respected, loved, and shared by the community. The activities in the program help me feel very happy, have more faith in life", Mr. Tam said.

The "Tet Charity" program in Tu Ky district has a Tet market, displaying about 10 essential items for Tet meals at "0 VND". Each poor person participating in the program is free to choose the necessary items. Holding a bag of essential items in her hand, Mrs. Pham Thi Dong (84 years old in Tien Dong commune) emotionally said: "Being able to go to the Tet market, living in a joyful, warm, and affectionate space like this for us poor people is truly precious and happy".

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Gam, Vice President of the Hai Duong Provincial Red Cross Society, the "Humane Tet" program was launched by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society from the Year of the Cat 2023. This program replaces the "Tet for the poor and Agent Orange victims" program that has been maintained by the association at all levels for over 20 years. The program's target audience is no longer limited to the poor and Agent Orange victims but is expanded to include all vulnerable people in society.

In 2023, although Hai Duong was not chosen as the program's focal point, the provincial Red Cross still coordinated with An Duc Pagoda in Quang Nghiep Commune (Tu Ky) to organize "Humanitarian Tet" with a series of activities. The program not only gave gifts and banh chung to people in difficult circumstances but also organized many activities for them to experience and feel the warm atmosphere and care of the community such as: spring greeting performances, lucky draws, going to Tet markets, shopping for clothes, getting a haircut, medical examination and medicine... All are completely free.

From this program, the Red Cross Associations of districts, towns and cities have also mobilized significant resources to organize a variety of activities to care for people in difficult circumstances and vulnerable people in society. "The Tet Charity Program is a humanitarian ecosystem, not just for giving gifts. There, we have connected a lot of love and sharing with people in difficult circumstances from units, businesses and philanthropists. The giver feels happy, and the receiver feels excited because he is respected and loved. The good traditional values ​​of loving others as if loving oneself, the whole leaf covers the torn leaf... of our nation are thus increasingly cultivated and spread," Ms. Gam emphasized.

Scaling Up

2024 is the second consecutive year that the Hai Duong Provincial Red Cross Society has implemented the "Compassionate Tet" program with the motto "No poor or disadvantaged person will not receive Tet gifts".

After the program in Tu Ky district, from now until February 4, the Provincial Red Cross Society encourages district-level associations to continue organizing this meaningful program. The goal is to mobilize and present 40,000 gifts, worth a total of 20 billion VND to poor, near-poor households, those in difficult circumstances, and people infected with Agent Orange who do not have the conditions to enjoy spring and celebrate Tet. Mobilize and connect the community to organize fair models, give gifts, diversify forms of support for the poor and disadvantaged...

The "Humanitarian Tet" program in Hai Duong this year will be expanded in scale compared to last year. Ms. Gam said that the Provincial Red Cross Society has advised the Provincial People's Committee to coordinate with the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society to organize the "Humanitarian Tet" program for the spring of Giap Thin 2024. The program is expected to take place at the Dong Xu Cultural Center (Hai Duong City) on January 27. About 1,200 poor and near-poor households, and workers in especially difficult circumstances will receive gifts (VND 1.5 million/person), be given coupons to participate in the "Humanitarian Tet Market", and choose free essential goods for Tet...

The Year of the Dragon 2024 is approaching, programs like "Tet Nhan Phi" will certainly warm the hearts of those in difficult circumstances, helping them to enjoy Tet and welcome spring.