Godmother - a journey of love connection

With love and sharing, the Women's Union of Cau Thia Ward has turned the "Godmother" program into a lasting and widespread movement. It has become a source of spiritual encouragement, giving wings to many orphans and children in especially difficult circumstances to continue going to school and nurture their dreams.

- Do you still want to go to school?

- I really like it, but my house is far away, there is no car, and my parents can't take me there.

- I'd like to ask you for a ride, would you like it?

Yes , I really like going to school!

That was the first conversation nearly 2 years ago when Ms. Lo Thi Nhien - a specialist in the Women's Union of Cau Thia ward learned about the situation of Hoang Manh Cuong in Ban Ngoa residential group.

Cuong was born in 2009. His family is very poor. His parents are both over 70 years old, in poor health, often sick, and his brother is mentally disabled. Cuong loves to study but was at risk of dropping out of school because he had no money and no means to get to school.

Ms. Lo Thi Nhien said: I just thought simply, as long as I can walk and do something useful, I should do it. Seeing my child suffering so much, I felt very guilty if I didn't help. Cuong was very obedient and studious, the more I loved him, the more I wanted to accompany him. Therefore, I asked friends near my house to let Cuong go to school with me and supported him with 200,000 VND each month. It's just a little less money and time each month, but it saves a child's dream of going to school!

Also in a difficult situation with the risk of dropping out of school, HDD, born in 2018 in Ban Lanh residential group, has a difficult situation when his mother died at a young age, his father went to work far away and had to live with a distant relative. The HIV disease he carries makes his disadvantage even more difficult.

Understanding HDD’s situation, the Ward Women’s Union contacted and connected with the Provincial Youth Connection Club to find a source of sponsorship funding. Thanks to that, she received 600,000 VND per month in support.

HDD emotionally expressed: I am very happy! Thanks to the support money, I have more money for food, books and pens, and warm winter clothes. I will try to study hard to not disappoint everyone's love for me!

Over the years, local Women's Unions at all levels have persistently built "bridges" of love for poor, disadvantaged, and orphaned children in the ward.

Vice President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, President of the Cau Thia Ward Women's Union - Phan Thi Thanh Quy said: The Union has launched a movement to sponsor orphans, poor children, and children in difficult circumstances to 100% of the women's union branches in residential groups. Sponsorship does not necessarily mean bearing all the costs, sometimes it is just regular visits and encouragement. That affection for the children is priceless!

In parallel, the Association regularly mobilizes organizations, businesses, and kind individuals to donate bicycles and school supplies to support special children.

The association also implements many sustainable fundraising models. One of the creative ways is to sort trash and recycle scrap. From plastic bags, beer cans, scrap metal collected daily, women members sell them to buy books, candy, and warm clothes for children.

Thanks to this collaboration, every orphan in the area has a spiritual “godmother”. They receive both material and emotional support, are encouraged to study, and have their dreams nurtured.

Ms. Phan Thi Thanh Quy proudly shared: There were periods when the Association sponsored hundreds of poor and orphaned children. Up to now, thanks to the "Godmother" program, many children have finished school, become independent and mature. We see this as a motivation to continue to expand the model, not letting any child lack the loving arms of the community.

It can be seen that when the arms of society are open, no child will be lost in life. The “Godmother” program in Cau Thia ward has given wings to less fortunate children to continue going to school, arousing the spirit of sharing and connecting love in the community.

Women members - mothers who did not give birth to the children - have contributed to nurturing the dreams of poor children, children in difficult circumstances, and orphans in the ward to be cared for, grow up in love and confidently step into the future.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/me-do-dau-hanh-trinh-ket-noi-yeu-thuong-post882782.html