A man in the northern province of Ha Nam has been collecting nails on roads for 20 years to make his contribution to charity.
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| The money from recycling is saved in a piggy bank |
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Long has donated tens of millions of VND to people who were affected by the flood in the central region. He also gives aid for the encouragement of study in his home town over the years.
Long was born in 1928, in Thu Dau Mot, in the southern province of Song Be, which were later separated into the two provinces of Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc. During the period between 1946 and 1964, he joined the war resistance against the French colonialists and then the Americans. In 1965, he moved to in Ha Nam Province.
His activities started when he saw many traffic accidents caused by “nail traps”. He began collecting the nails to prevent such tragedies.
It was in the 90s that people began to notice Mr. Long going along the road, collecting the nails that were set up by people expressly to cause accidents, then charge a lot of money for repairing tires.
The work is very dangerous, but, in his words, “I have got used to it, whenever I go down the street I look out for sharp metal objects. If there is a day when I can’t look out, I worry about drivers on these streets.”
The people who set these traps see the elderly man as an enemy, and often try to drive him away.
His wife says, “Every day, he gets up very early to collect nails and scarp metal to bring them home. One time he suffered from a hemorrhage while going about his work and had to be hospitalised. But he was back out doing his job the day after being released. At first my children and I really urged him to quit. But now we see the good in what he does and do our best to support him.”
He has received many formal recognitions for his work by provincial agencies. Most recently, he was awarded with a certificate of merit from the local Department of Transport.
Ms. Le Thi Lan, a resident living along National Highway 1A, shared, “Sharp objects and nails are often put around motorbike repair shops. Mr Long’s effort helps to reduce risks for passers.”
After the metal he collects reaches a sufficient weight, he will bring them in for recycling, using the money to help poor children study, or other people in need, such as the children of wounded veterans.
Preparing to gather nails
Nails that Mr Long collected on roads
A certificate of merit for his work
Sharp metal poses a risk to motorists
