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| Mr. Lien Dai (second, from the right) together with members of Indochina Best Travel Company supporting essential supplies during a volunteer travel program |
In the mind of the student Tran Thi Thuy Vy (Huong Tra town), Mr. Lien Dai is no different from the fairy godfather in the fairy tale. 19 years ago, when Thuy Vy and her sister Kieu Trinh’s education seemed to be abandoned, the support and scholarships sponsored by Mr. Dai promptly helped them to keep their dreams to go to school. Thuy Vy recalled: “My family was so difficult at that time. My parents passed away, leaving three of our sisters in life. My eldest sister had to work in her early age to support the family. Mr. Dai knew my situation and came to my home, encouraged us to keep on going to school, I was surprised and touched”.
Since then, Thuy Vy and Kieu Trinh received a support of 300,000 VND/person/month. After passing the university entrance exam, they each receive a scholarship of 6 million VND per year until they graduate. Thanks to this suitable and long-term scholarships, the doors to their future have opened wider for the two orphaned sisters. Kieu Trinh graduated from the University of Sciences and now has a job in Da Nang. Meanwhile, Thuy Vy is currently a fourth-year student at the University of Economics, Hue University, and she is striving for stable job opportunities after graduation.
Visiting Ms. Ha Thi Cao’s house in Huong Tra town, we could see the affection her family has for Mr. Lien Dai. Pointing to the chicken coop beside her house and the spacious, clean kitchen, Ms. Cao said: “Uncle Dai came to visit and led a charity group to support my family with this kitchen and the chicken coop. The kitchen is no longer leaking, and now we have a chicken coop for long-term farming. I’m truly very happy.”
Ms. Cao family was the first to receive support from the volunteer travel program held by the Disable People’s Association - the Provincial Association in Support of Handicapped and orphans of the province in collaboration with Indochina Best Travel. Although Ms. Cao was elderly, and she was facing difficulties as her son-in-law suffers from mental illness, and her daughter, despites working hard in trading scraps, still struggled to provide for her two children’s education. In addition to supporting tuition fees, building kitchens, providing supplies, and constructing chicken coops, the program also offered livestock and feed to help Ms. Cao’s family develop sustainable livelihoods.
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| Mr. Lien Dai (on the far right) has been dedicated to community activities for decades |
Not only is Mr. Dai the direct liaison with Indochina Best Travel, but he also advocates for and conducts surveys through reconnaissance trips to ensure that the support program reached the right beneficiaries. Since 2022, with his involvement, 3 to 4 households each year have received assistance for home repairs, chicken coop construction, as well as received funds for livelihood development, averaging between 40 to 60 million VND per household.
Sharing about his journey of spreading love, Mr. Dai said: “Many years ago, when I was working at the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs in Huong Tra, I was a collaborator and regularly worked alongside the Disabled People’s Association - the Provincial Association in Support of Handicapped and Orphans in supporting vulnerable individuals. For me, helping others is also a way of helping myself. The joy and happiness of people with disabilities and of orphans make me feel more positive and meaningful”.
In 2016, Mr. Lien Dai officially became an officer of the Disabled People’s Association - the Provincial Association in Support Handicapped and Orphans. His steps on the journey of sharing love and supporting the vulnerable have traveled farther and wider. With his passion for volunteering, he has worked tirelessly every day to mobilize and connect with benefactors, building useful programs and activities. As a result, he has made significant contributions to turning the association into a trusted destination where vulnerable individuals receive timely support and accompaniment.
Mr. Dinh Man, Chairman of the Disable People’s Association - the Provincial Association in Support of handicapped and Orphans commented: “Mr. Dai is a dedicated and responsible individual. Not only does he excel in his own work, but through his empathy and love for those in difficult situations, he has earned the trust of benefactors and the affection of vulnerable individuals. By the end of 2023, Mr. Dai was honored with a Certificate of Merit from the Vietnam Association in Support of Handicapped and Orphans for his outstanding achievements in supporting people with disabilities and orphans in need. This recognition serves as both an acknowledgment of his efforts and a motivation to further fuel his passion for community activities.”