The Youth Union joins hands to replace temporary shelters with safe homes

In the 2020–2025 term, Dong Nai Province successfully completed its program to eliminate temporary and substandard housing, delivering more than 2,000 new homes. This outcome is the result of joint efforts across the entire political system, with the Youth Union playing an especially active role.

In 2025, Youth Union chapters across Dong Nai helped build and repair more than 70 homes for young members and disadvantaged families, offering them safe shelter and renewed strength to overcome hardship and rebuild their lives.”

Harnessing the energy of youth and the resources of society

Nguyen Minh Kien, Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Dong Nai Province, and Secretary of the Provincial Youth Union, noted that mobilizing resources to build homes for young union members and families in housing difficulty had long been a priority of the Provincial Youth Union. He added that since the Prime Minister, the Provincial Party Committee, and the Provincial People’s Committee launched the movement to eliminate makeshift and dilapidated houses, the Youth Union had taken on the responsibility of contributing to the province’s housing targets.

A house is handed over to the family of Vo Van Muoi in Hamlet 2, Dai Phuoc Commune, by representatives of the Provincial Youth Union, the Provincial Youth Federation, and the Police Division for Administrative Management of Social Order. Photo: Courtesy of the Provincial Youth Union

Since then, the Provincial Youth Union has issued numerous directives to guide Youth Union organizations from the provincial to the grassroots level in carrying out activities that promote the role of young people in the movement to eliminate makeshift and dilapidated houses. At the same time, it directed all subordinate grassroots units to review housing conditions in their localities in order to advise Party committees, local authorities, and higher-level Youth Union bodies on appropriate support measures.

The Youth Union has incorporated the campaign to eliminate makeshift and substandard housing into its annual programs, Youth Month, and Summer Volunteer Campaigns. These initiatives have mobilized support from businesses, organizations, and individuals to fund both new construction and home repairs. Youth volunteer teams also provide practical support clearing sites, moving belongings, transporting materials, and overseeing construction progress. Through these combined efforts, disadvantaged families are able to build safe and secure homes.

Huynh Cong Phu, Vice Chairman of the Commune Fatherland Front Committee and Secretary of the Dai Phuoc Commune Youth Union, noted that just over a month ago, a new “October 15 House” was inaugurated and handed over to a family in need of housing. Most of the construction costs were raised through contributions from benefactors and businesses, mobilized by the Provincial Youth Union, the Provincial Youth Federation, and the Provincial Police Department of Administrative Management of Social Order. The remaining expenses were jointly covered by the family and the local authorities.

What stands out is that the project was made possible not just by funding, but by the shared commitment of multiple parties. In particular, local youth union members took part directly, volunteering to transport building materials and help supervise construction. Their contributions not only saved costs and shortened the timeline but also demonstrated the strong sense of responsibility young people feel toward their community.

Bringing safe shelters to life

Through the shared commitment of Youth Union and Youth Association organizations, the campaign to eliminate makeshift and substandard housing has provided safe and stable homes for officials, young members, and families in need.

Early in their marriage, Dieu Thi Yen and her husband rented a house in Binh Loc Commune (now Binh Loc Ward, Dong Nai Province). Every weekend, however, they would make the trip back to Suoi Dzui Hamlet with their young child.  Noticing the strain of their constant travel, Yen’s relatives encouraged her to borrow money to put up a small temporary house in Suoi Dzui, sparing the family the long journeys.

In addition to funding housing construction and repairs, the Provincial Youth Union helps disadvantaged families transform their lives by providing vocational training, job opportunities, and access to affordable loans …

With their modest means, the couple could only afford to borrow enough for a new tin roof, while the walls were patched together from old sheets donated by neighbors. Since her husband worked far from home and returned only on weekends, the house was mainly a shelter for her and their two children. For more than two years, they lived in this fragile dwelling, and what remains etched in her memory are the stormy nights when heavy rains would wake them as water blew directly onto their faces.

“Over two months ago, when we learned that our family would receive support to build a home, my husband and I were filled with gratitude and relief. With the 80 million VND sum provided, and by pooling a little extra ourselves, we added a small extension at the back. Now, with a secure and sturdy house, we can devote ourselves to our work and ensure our children’s proper education,” Yen recounted.

The family of Vo Van Muoi in Hamlet 2, Dai Phuoc Commune, shares the same joy. Stepping into his new home, he could not hide his happiness. For years, his family had dreamed of a solid house and now that dream has become reality. On behalf of his family, he expressed deep gratitude to the Provincial Youth Union, the Vietnam Youth Federation of Dong Nai, and the Provincial Police’s Division of Administrative Management for giving them not only a safe home, but also renewed strength to strive for a better life.

In addition to mobilizing resources to build and repair homes for disadvantaged households, several local Youth Union chapters have also raised funds to support their own members and former youth leaders. In Long Ha Commune, a house was built for the Secretary of the Youth Branch at Le Hoan Primary School; in Minh Duc Commune, for the Secretary of the Loc Khe branch; and in Phuoc Long Ward, for a former district-level youth officer. These efforts underscore the solidarity and commitment of Dong Nai’s young people in the campaign to eliminate makeshift housing and improve living conditions.

By Nga Son - Translated by Tam Binh, Thu Ha