Sharing about his chance to do charity work, Trinh Lap Duc (born in 1992 in Ward 7, Soc Trang City, Soc Trang Province) said that during his university years in Can Tho City, many times when he had no money, Duc went to the temple to do volunteer work and then stayed for a meal or ate at a charity restaurant. From then on, Duc had a wish that when his life was stable, he would do charity work to repay life.
In 2014, after graduating from university, Duc applied for a job at Tin An Seafood Factory (Soc Trang province) with a stable income. From then on, Trinh Lap Duc had the opportunity to fulfill his dream of helping people and life.
“I have seen old people selling lottery tickets, lonely people waiting for government support, sick people with no money for treatment, many students who cannot continue their education due to difficult circumstances. There are even poor households who have no coffins to bury them when they die. I always think that while I am young and healthy, I must help those in need to reduce their difficulties and contribute to poverty reduction in the locality,” Duc said.
Through social networks, relatives and friends, Trinh Lap Duc acts as a bridge to call for help for those in difficult and disadvantaged situations. In 2017, Duc established the group "Sowers of Fate" with 35 members and expanded its activities with many practical programs.
Currently, Trinh Lap Duc has 4 days off each month so he can focus on big charity trips. And every afternoon after work, he goes to support difficult cases.
“Although each gift is small, seeing the smiles of the recipients makes me feel that life is more meaningful,” Duc said.
Trinh Lap Duc informed that recently, Duc has cooperated with the Chau Thanh District Association for the Promotion of Education (Soc Trang Province) and the Red Cross Associations of communes and towns in the area to find unfortunate lives to help. When giving gifts, he always records the address, amount of money, and pictures to send to the donors. From there, he creates prestige so that people near and far trust him and send him more affection.
Over 10 years of volunteering, thousands of cases have been helped with funeral expenses, poor patients have been supported with necessities, poor students have been supported with writing books... In 2023-2024 alone, Trinh Lap Duc has called on benefactors to help with an amount of over 2.3 billion VND.
Ly Hoang Nghiep - Thuan Hoa Secondary School (Chau Thanh District, Soc Trang Province) - said that his mother was seriously ill and all expenses were spent on medical treatment, so he could no longer afford to send him to school. Upon learning the news, Mr. Trinh Lap Duc and the District Education Promotion Association went to his house to encourage him and called on donors to support a scholarship of 22 million VND so that he could continue to go to school.
“Without the support, I wouldn't be able to go to school like I am now,” Nghiep said emotionally.
Trinh Lap Duc said that in 2022, Duc opened Tinh Nguoi Soc Trang vegetarian restaurant on Ngo Gia Tu street, Ward 6, Soc Trang city, Soc Trang province. The restaurant operates every Wednesday and Sunday, serving 500 - 1,000 meals per day to people in need.
“At first, I planned to give away free meals, but I was afraid that many people would be shy and not come to eat, so I decided to charge a symbolic price of 2,000 VND/portion. Those who don’t have money will always be welcomed and served attentively,” Duc happily said.
With his charitable heart, for many consecutive years, Trinh Lap Duc has been awarded a certificate of merit by the Chairman of the People's Committee of Soc Trang province; has been recognized as a typical and advanced example and is currently nominated for the 2024 National Volunteer Award launched by the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.
