The shelter is the clearest proof for me that over the past 20 years, my attachment and trust in the Trade Union organization is completely worthy," female union member Pham Thi Tuyet Lan emotionally expressed.
Dream of a decent home
Having worked hard for more than half of her life, at the age of 57, female union member Pham Thi Tuyet Lan - a medical staff at Thoi Hung 2 Primary School (Co Do district, Can Tho city) - has always dreamed of a small home but has not been able to realize it.
Recalling the early days of their marriage, Tuyet Lan and her husband only had a small house built with leaves and temporary trees. In that house, the couple cherished the dream of a spacious home. But year after year, that dream was repeatedly delayed due to economic conditions.
“The house has been in disrepair for a long time, but for the past 3 years, whenever there is a storm, my whole family has to leave everything behind and go to my younger brother’s house to stay, because we are afraid that the house will collapse at any time. My husband and I promised ourselves that we would save money to build a new home, but with our limited income, every year we can only watch the house get worse and worse,” the female union member shared.
13 years is the time that Mr. Bui Huu Kha - a member of the Union of Nhon Ai Commune (Phong Dien District, Can Tho City) - longed for a small house for his family. Despite working hard, with many worries, the union member and his wife still had to squeeze together with their children in a house built with old trees, old boards...
“As parents, we always want to give the best to our children. Seeing our children crowded into an old, dilapidated house, my wife and I felt sorry and encouraged each other to rebuild the house next year. It has been 13 years now, the children are growing up, but that dream is still unfinished,” the male member confided.
New home - new future
Looking back over 20 years in the Union, she has been taken care of in many ways, but the day she started the construction of the shelter was probably one of the happiest days for union member Tuyet Lan. After so many years working in the education sector, at the age of almost retirement, the female union member was able to fulfill her dream.
In happiness, the female union member emotionally shared: “Without the support of the union, my dream would not have come true on the day of my retirement. This rainy season, my family will no longer be anxious and can sleep well with beautiful dreams for the future. The shelter is the clearest proof to me that over the past 20 years, my attachment and trust in the Union organization is completely worthy.”
Since returning to the Trade Union Shelter, not only Mr. Kha but also his relatives, colleagues and neighbors have been happy for the union member. After 13 years, the couple's dream of "settling down and having a career" has come true, and their children can live and grow up in a spacious house.
Looking at his children laughing and talking happily in their new home, Mr. Kha felt both happy and lucky and grateful. Because without the support of the Union, with his current income, his dream would take many more years to complete.
“The union not only takes care of our material needs but also provides us with a reliable spiritual support. The new shelter is not only a place to shelter us from the rain and sun, but more than that, it will be the beginning for me to carry out new plans in the future,” said Kha.
The Golden Heart Social Charity Fund branch in Can Tho was established in 2000 and started the Union Shelter Donation Program in 2005. Over the years, the value of the shelters has increased and is now 50 million VND/shelter. From the beginning of 2024 to now, the fund has supported the construction of 38 Union Shelters with a total amount of nearly 2 billion VND.
