Dong Nai mobilizes residents to participate in Month for the Poor

The period from October 17 to November 18 each year is designated as the peak month for activities supporting the poor. This year, the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Committee of Dong Nai City continues to play a key role in connecting and coordinating resources, while helping implement various forms in support of the poor.

Nguyen Tan Phu, Vice Chairman of the VFF Committee of Dong Nai City, presents a house handover decision to a resident of Ta Lai Commune. Photo: Van Truyen

These activities further reaffirm the municipal VFF committee’s role in effectively connecting charitable individuals and organizations with people facing hardship and mobilizing community resources to complement the state budget in implementing social welfare work across the city.

Joining hands to support the poor

Since the beginning of 2026, VFF committees at all levels across the city have mobilized and coordinated resources to build more than 300 solid houses for poor households. They have also organized direct humanitarian and charitable activities in local communities worth a total of more than VND330 billion.

In response to the 500-day-and-night special emulation campaign themed “Solidarity – Discipline – Efficiency – Breakthrough, Building a Civilized and Modern Dong Nai,” and in pursuit of the goal of leaving no one behind, VFF committees at all levels are stepping up efforts to mobilize and connect social resources to support the poor. They are also making necessary preparations to help residents celebrate the 2027 Lunar New Year with warmth and adequate provisions.

In late October 2026, the Standing Board of the VFF Committee of Dong Nai City issued an open letter calling on agencies, organizations, businesses, religious institutions, philanthropists and residents to uphold the tradition of mutual support and contribute to the city’s Fund for the Poor. The fund will provide resources to help disadvantaged households stabilize their lives and achieve sustainable poverty reduction.

Setting an example through their pioneering role, all officials, Party members, civil servants, public employees and workers in the city’s VFF system were the first to contribute to the Fund for the Poor. Many individuals, agencies and organizations have also made donations. Meanwhile, VFF committees in communes and wards, together with their member organizations, have stepped up public outreach and encouraged residents to participate.

Nguyen Ngoc Thao An, Chairwoman of the VFF Committee of Tran Bien Ward, said that in response to the campaign launched by the city VFF Standing Committee, the ward’s VFF Standing Committee had actively encouraged officials, Youth Union members, association members and residents from all walks of life to support the Month for the Poor. Taking advantage of the ward’s large number of religious establishments, local authorities have also encouraged religious dignitaries, clerics, monks and followers to participate in humanitarian and charitable activities and support disadvantaged people. These efforts have received a positive response from local religious institutions.

November also coincides with the organization of Great National Unity Festival  in residential areas and the Culture - Great Unity Week 2026. Accordingly, VFF working committees in 595 villages, hamlets and quarters are incorporating fundraising and assistance for the poor into these events.

Ngo Thi Thuy Hoi, Head of the VFF Working Committee in Quarter 1, Trang Dai Ward, said the neighborhood had called on residents to contribute to the Fund for the Poor during Great National Unity Festival and the Culture - Great National Unity Week. Individuals and families were encouraged to help disadvantaged people in their community according to their means.

Meanwhile, the city’s Union of Friendship Organizations is working with localities to accelerate construction of 100 friendship houses worth a total of VND7 billion, with the aim of handing them over to residents before the 2027 Lunar New Year.

In addition to providing material assistance, the VFF and its member organizations have consistently focused on improving residents’ spiritual well-being. With funding from social resources, they have implemented various community facilities to meet residents’ legitimate needs.

Nguyen Tan Phu, Vice Chairman of the VFF Committee of Dong Nai City

Renewing approaches to supporting the poor

Alongside mobilizing social resources, VFF committees at all levels and their member organizations are working to renew their approaches to poverty alleviation.

Nguyen Tan Phu, Vice Chairman of the VFF Committee of Dong Nai City, said the city committee and its member organizations would shift more decisively from direct assistance toward sustainable livelihood creation, start-up assistance, vocational training, job creation and public infrastructure projects. These efforts aim to help residents become increasingly self-reliant and improve their quality of life. During the remaining months of 2026, residential communities will focus on helping people achieve sustainable poverty reduction through livelihood programs, while maintaining regular support for those who are no longer able to work, he said.

Sharing this view, VFF member organizations also regard continuing to provide scholarships for students to pursue general and vocational education, as well as supporting disadvantaged people seeking to create their own jobs, as annual priorities in their social welfare work.

Khmer children play in the grounds of Soc Lon Pagoda in Loc Hung Commune. Photo: Van Truyen

Nguyen Thi Thuan, Vice Chairwoman of the City Association for Victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin, said the association had provided interest-free loans to 602 households of AO victims and maintained long-term scholarship support for 164 students who were AO victims themselves or children of AO victims. Many beneficiaries have since acquired stable occupations and are able to support themselves and their families. The association is continuing its assistance and expanding the number of students and AO victims receiving support to pursue education and find employment.

Nguyen Van Lam, a student at a secondary school in Trang Dai Ward, is among those receiving scholarships from local authorities this November. “My family is in difficult circumstances. I am living with my mother and maternal grandparents. The care and support from my school and neighborhood have given me better opportunities and greater motivation to continue my education,” Lam said.

Local authorities are also mobilizing resources to build homes for poor households and develop social welfare facilities that directly benefit residential communities. Over the past month, the city’s Department of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and the People’s Committee of Dak Lua Commune have been implementing a project to build a clean water supply station in Dak Lua 2 Hamlet. Funded through social contributions totaling more than VND5.2 billion, the facility is expected to help meet residents’ daily water needs once operational.

“During the dry season, many household wells run dry, leaving families without water for daily use. Residents are therefore eagerly hoping that the clean water station in the hamlet will be completed soon so they can have a stable supply of clean water,” said Nguyen Van Nang, a resident of Dak Lua 2 Hamlet.

In addition, the VFF Committee of Dong Nai City and its member organizations continue to provide essential supplies, health insurance cards and medical treatment expenses for poor households. They also maintain monthly assistance for nearly 7,000 particularly disadvantaged individuals and families, helping strengthen social welfare and ensure that no one is left behind.

By Trong Phuoc, Van Truyen - Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha