A young man in Hanoi is gaining praise and support from local people for his tireless efforts to help disadvantaged people in the area.
Each month, Nguyen Thanh Trung from Phuc Xa Ward, collects rice, eggs and clothes to give to poor families in Hanoi.
Nguyen Thanh Trung is packaging rice to bring for poor people
Phuong, whose family has benefited from Trung's kindness, said she used to have to collect and sell recyclables for a living. If she found nothing, the family would have nothing to eat that day. "Now I don't have to worry about hunger anymore. Sometimes, we even have money to buy some meat," she said. Dan, an old woman who also received help from Trung, said, not only did the rice she received make her happy, she was also moved by the kindness.
Trung was born in 1988 to a well-off family and is now the director of a company. He said, "I'm quite an emotional person and am easily touched when I hear about others in bad situations. About four years ago, I saw a poor man who was ready to use all his money to buy food for a disabled man on the street. This act moved me to carry out my own charity work."
On the weekend, Trung collects rice from other donors in Hanoi. Sometimes he shares stories about the poor and encourages the volunteers who work with his charity group. He often helps those who have nowhere to stay and others, such as rubbish collectors, on the streets at night. One time he recalls having called on friends' help to buy steamed meat cakes for a street vendor.
The young man has adopted three children. He met one of his adopted children, Thanh Tam, on one of the nights leading up to Tet. The child and his grandmother were wandering in the cold, so Trung offered his aid. Tam is now going to nursery and has had heart surgery.
Between his company and charity works, Trung almost has no time to rest. His mother said, "He has liked to do charitable works ever since he was young. He made me pay for a bus ticket for a poor man when he saw that man was being chased out. I am proud of him."
In 2013, Trung established the 'Tu Thien That' charity group to help disadvantaged people across the country. His dreams are to build a suspension bridge for the ethnic people in Hoa Binh before flood season arrives, and to help homeless children go to school.
