Be Van Hieu, born in 1976, his wife Hoang Thi Tim, born in 1994, and their daughter Be Thi Huong Giang, born in 2022, had spent years living in constant fear in a fragile shack in Tri Le Commune, Lang Son Province.
Hieu's family outside their newly built house (Photo: Dinh Tung).
The makeshift shelter was built from bamboo and scrap timber, with woven bamboo walls and a deteriorating fibro-cement roof. During heavy rain, water leaked through the roof and flooded their sleeping area. A strong gust of wind could have caused the structure to collapse at any time.
According to Be Van Duyen, Hieu's younger brother, both Hieu and Tim suffer from severe mental disabilities and are deaf and mute, leaving them unable to secure stable employment.
After Dantri/Dtinews published an article about the family's circumstances, readers and benefactors donated more than VND 86 million (approximately USD 3,300) to support them. Duyen also contributed additional funds to help build a new home for his brother's family.
To ensure the family could have a spacious and durable house, Duyen sold his family's goat herd for VND 20 million (approximately USD 770) and a horse for another VND 20 million (approximately USD 770).
Construction then began on a new house measuring more than 40 square metres, with total costs reaching VND 127 million (approximately USD 4,870).
On behalf of the family, Duyen expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Dantri readers and donors for helping provide Hieu's family with a secure place to live.
Be Van Duyen, Hieu's youngest brother, thanked Dantri readers and benefactors for helping his elder brother's family obtain a solid house (Photo: Dinh Tung).
The joy of moving into the new home was evident on the faces of Hieu and Tim. Standing outside the sturdy house, Duyen said the two families are now focusing on raising a herd of 30 goats and eight horses.
As the livestock grow, the families plan to sell some of the animals to support their daily living expenses and help care for young Huong Giang.
Nong Thi Tap, secretary of the Party cell in Huu Nhat Village, said Hieu's family had been among the most disadvantaged households in the area.
Thanks to the timely support and connection provided by Dantri, Hieu, his wife and daughter now have a safe and permanent home, giving them a more stable foundation for the future, she said.
On behalf of local authorities and residents of Huu Nhat Village, Tap expressed sincere thanks to Dantri readers and benefactors for their generosity in helping the family rebuild their lives.