The “Tet nghia tinh” (Tet of love) program was jointly held by the Ho Chi Minh City Farmers’ Union in collaboration with the city’s Television Station ahead of the lunar New Year (Tet), the most important festival of Vietnamese people in a year.
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Leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and Farmers’ Union receive contributions from donors. |
The program, began in 2008 as the “Cay Mai Mua Xuan” (Spring apricot flower tree) and “Tet Lam Dieu Hay” (Tet with good deeds) initiatives, is a part of efforts to mobilize social resources for the care for poor and vulnerable farmers, as well as those in need across the city and its twinned cities and provinces nationwide.
Le Minh Dung, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Farmers’ Union, said that over the past 16 years, “Tet nghia tinh” has grown into a symbol of solidarity, providing vital support to improve the lives of farmers and help them overcome hardships, stabilize livelihoods, and escape from poverty, thus speeding up the implementation of the city’s sustainable poverty alleviation programs.
Last year, the program raised 8.2 billion VND which was used to provide 2,716 gift packages, 150 savings books, 1,476 scholarships, and cash for 30 orphans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, 65 sets of production tools were presented to farmers, while two houses were built for the needy from this fund. In addition, health insurance support was given to local policy beneficiaries, along with other social welfare activities across the city and twinned localities.
Dung called for continuous contributions from organizations, individuals, agencies, and businesses to the program to care for more needy farmers and residents.
Praising the results of the program, Nguyen Manh Cuong, Head of the municipal Party Committee’s Board for Mass Mobilization, thanked businesses, organizations, and individuals contributing to the program, and urged farmers to leverage the support provided, not just to overcome poverty but also to achieve economic success and contribute to the city’s broader goals of rural development and social progress.
Source: VNA