CafeF
“When helping others, I feel inner peace”
Having been adopted when he was only one-year-old, when his life became more stable, Minh (37 years old of Dak R’Lap district, Dak Nong province) began a determined journey to help people in difficult circumstances with the belief: If you do good deeds, good things will come to you.
In the sunny and windy Nhan Co commune, everyone is too familiar with the image of a scrawny man traveling all over the roads on an old red motorbike. Nguyen The Minh, weighing only 36kg, darkened skin and bright eyes, has had a difficult but beautiful journey in life.
Think and act on small things to accumulate to big things
Born without knowing his biological parents, Minh only remembers being adopted and cared for by a family when he was only one-year-old. His adoptive parents were also very poor and life was lacking. As a baby, he had to drink rice water instead of milk. However, Minh always feels that he is lucky.
“I was taken in as an infant, and thanks to the help of benefactors, my life has become more stable. Therefore, I want to help people who were once less fortunate than me,” Minh explained about his journey of “paying it forward”.
In 2016, Nguyen The Minh founded the Dak Nong Charity Club, starting his volunteering journey. At that time, he often went alone to ask for used books, old clothes, and even picked up scrap metal to sell to raise funds to donate to orphans and the poor. “I’m not afraid. I think and act on small things to accumulate into big things,” he said.
At the time of finding the Kind Hears Charity Club, he often went alone to ask for used books, old clothes, and even picked up scrap metal to sell to raise funds to donate to orphans and the poor.
“I’m not afraid. I think and act on small things to accumulate into big things,”
Recognizing that his own abilities are limited but individuals in needs are many, Minh started sharing on social networks to seek help. Thanks to his active advocates, the Club gradually became more widely known. Admiring the kind objective, more than 40 people joined the group, readily spreading a beautiful lifestyle and helping the community. Club members often go directly to disadvantaged families to gather information and seek help through social networks from benefactors near and far. In addition, they also do many fundraising programs.
Over the years, the Kind Hearts Charity Club chaired by Mr. Minh has been operating very effectively. It helps many difficult situations in Dak Nong province and neighboring localities. The club has twice received the Youth for Community Award, recognizing the values that Mr. Minh and his members have created.
No barrier can hold back a kind and enduring heart
Looking at him loving and caring for his little daughter, no one would have thought that she was an orphan since birth. Over the past 4 years, the baby has become more active and beautiful every day, under the care of he and his wife.
“That’s the youngest. A mother asked me to raise the older one when I went to deliver help. At that time, she was only 16 months old. I immediately took the baby home to take care of her. This year, she is 7 years old but has cerebral palsy and is being treated in Ho Chi Minh City,” he shared. Seeing his own image in the children, he loves them even more. Although life is still difficult, Minh always feels happy because he can do the things he wishes for and has a happy little family.
Just when he thought he would continue with his a beautiful journey, illness struck. “In recent years, he has been sick all the time. He was in pain and went to the doctor and the doctor said he had liver and lung cancer. Luckily, he took medicine and got better. He got a little stronger. Many times when he was sick and someone called for help, he still went” his wife said.
The will to rise and the spirit of service have never died in this man. “In my heart, I always think that I must not be weak. There are so many people in worse circumstances than me, in more pain than me, yet they still try to rise up so as not to be a burden to their families and society.” He believes that the more good deeds he does, the more good things will come to him.
“In my heart, I always think that I must not be weak. There are so many people in worse circumstances than me, in more pain than me, yet they still try to rise up so as not to be a burden to their families and society.” – Nguyen The Minh, Head of Kind Hearts Charity Club
Minh has twice ridden his motorbike into the flood-prone areas of Nghe An to support people. The gifts, no matter how small or large, always help him feel that his life is useful.
“There are times when I go to the middle of the night to ask for a coffin to bury someone who has unfortunately passed away. Those cases have become common to me… When I can help others, I feel happy inside. Otherwise I feel very guilty, so I have to do it at all costs…”, he confided.
Although he looks small and skinny, what he has done for the unfortunate families is not small. Whether it is a trip with volunteers or when he is alone, Mr. Minh is still persistent and arriving at places that need help very timely. Serious illness is no longer a concern. It cannot be a barrier to this man’s mission.
Mr. Minh’s belongings on all volunteer trips are a compassionate heart, a passionate spirit, and an old worn-out bike. As long as the unfortunate individuals still need help and his legs can walk, he will keep going.
The meaningful story about Mr. Nguyen The Minh’s journey to help the disadvantaged has become the main feature in “Connecting with Love” program on Humanitarian Television (VTV) broadcast in June 2024.
Ms. Vu Phuong Thanh, Swiss Ultra Champion (World Championship of Ultra-Endurance Triathlon) 2022, Representative of Tan Hiep Phat Company shared that every time she met characters like Mr. Nguyen The Minh through the TV program, she felt inspired to strive and keep a resilient spirit.
Visiting Mr. Minh’s family, Thanh greatly admired the small man who shouldered the whole family while helping many unfortunate lives nationwide. Phuong Thanh could clearly see Mr. The Minh’s face lit up when talking about his club. His eyes were bright and he was ull of enthusiasm.
“Not only is everyone in his family proud, we also admire him very much. We sympathize and are inspired by Mr. Minh because his persistent efforts, perseverance and “never-quit” attitude are very much similar to Tan Hiep Phat’s core values of “Responsible to society and communities” and the spirit of “nothing is impossible”, Vu Phuong Thanh shared.
With the desire to serve society and inspire people in challenging situations across Vietnam, Tan Hiep Phat Group has been a partner of the “Connecting with love” program since 2019. Over the past 5 years, the program has honored many inspiring people who overcome adversities and called for the community’s support to help the less fortunate across the country. With the spirit of serving, spreading love, and inspiring people in needs, Tan Hiep Phat has constantly strived to contribute values and make lives in the community better. The support include sponsoring and mentoring 50 children orphaned by Covid-19 until they reach 18 years of age, caring for and supporting policy families such as survived mothers of Vietnamese heroes, families with meritorious services, etc.
In 2023, Tan Hiep Phat has collaborated with local authorities in 4 provinces of Binh Duong, Hau Giang, Chu Lai, Ha Nam to organize “Connecting with Love – Uplift your steps to school” program to gift 600 scholarships totaling 1,2 billioin VND to encourage financially challenged students to continue reaching further through their excellent educational pursuits.
Reference: https://cafef.vn/truong-clb-trai-tim-nhan-ai-khi-giup-do-duoc-nguoi-khac-long-toi-thay-yen-vui-18824072812383012.chn
