Moving into Ha Noi Chung Tay shelter, three homeless elders cannot believe that one day they will have a house to live in Hanoi.
Minh Son (left corner) and Thanh Hai (right corner) take pictures with reporters.
(Photo: Mai Anh)
“If people only seek fun for themselves, how can we solve homelessness?"
From the beginning until now, the entire amount of 6,500,000 VND for rent and electricity bills of the house that is rented for the homeless elderly has all been paid by Thanh Hai, Minh Son and Vuong Anh. They know that this isn't a simple thing for those who are at the age of learning, experiencing and receiving financial support from family. However, the desire to help disadvantaged and vulnerable people is too great to motivate them to carry out this project.
While their peers are taking time to travel and experience their youth, Thanh Hai, Minh Son and Vuong Anh decide to spend their time, effort and money to help those in need by building a common home named “Ha Noi Chung Tay” for the homeless. For them, helping the homeless is a great joy and experience that not everyone has.
"Seeing the elderly stay healthy, talking with them, listening to their stories and thinking of many ways to help them is also a joy and experience for me", Minh Son shared. “I can spend time on other things to make money or enjoy myself. However, if people only seek fun for themselves, how can we solve homelessness?"
Thanh Hai is playing chess with Mr. Dang The Quy, who lives on the 4th floor
of the house in Linh Quang Lane.
(Photo: Mai Anh)
Ha Noi Chung Tay: How?
Unlike other volunteer projects, Ha Noi Chung Tay was carried out very specially.
Firstly, they decide the target group to help is the homeless because they realize that other disadvantaged people, such as the disabled or orphans, receive more aid policies from the government both physically and mentally. On the other hand, homeless people don't have the opportunity to raise their voices and confide their difficulties. Therefore, they decided to spend time and effort helping the homeless.
However, it was a long journey to bring them back to the common home of Ha Noi Chung Tay. To convince them, Hai, Son and Vuong Anh first confided, inquired about the situation and helped them immediately to build trust. Most especially, they also live, eat and experience their lives as if they "transformed" into homeless people for months to better understand their circumstances and difficulties.
Although working in a unique way, the team still encountered many difficulties. The attack from opposing opinions and the offensive public is one of the challenges that Hai, Son, and Vuong Anh have to face in the journey of making the dream of building a homeless shelter come true. Minh Son shared, “Many people are asking us whether we do it for any motives or purposes, even using negative words and actions towards us."
Ha Noi Chung Tay faced not only mental difficulties but also financial hardships. Because two of the three members are currently third-year students and one is a preschool teacher with a salary of less than 7 million VND, financial obstacles are inevitable. Minh Son shared: “How to balance personal money and the project budget is still a little confusing and difficult.”
The website receiving support for Ha Noi Chung Tay is open and transparent.
In addition, their parents were initially unsupportive because they were afraid that their child would become entangled in the law. Minh Son shared: “At first our parents were very worried. Despite doing a good job, we are also likely to face many things such as legal issues, so they don't agree." Despite difficulties and obstacles, Hai, Son and Vuong Anh are still determined to maintain the project because they want to spread love and message to young people today.
"I thought it was a dream"
Perhaps having a home to return to sleep after a tiring day is a languishing dream of the homeless elderly. When someone helps them fulfill that dream, these elderly are somewhat skeptical and disbelieving.
Mr. Thanh happily said, "I didn't think they could rent a house before Tet, but three guys did." Eating and sleeping on the street is familiar to him, so when having a home, he couldn't hide his joy and emotion.
Mr. Nguyen Ba Thanh is very happy to have a home.
(Photo: Mai Anh)
He also shared about his life before coming to Ha Noi Chung Tay: “I only took a bath once a week. I had to buy 2 thermoses of water for 10 thousand VND and rent a bathroom for 10 thousand, so it costs 20 thousand VND to take a bath.” However, after coming here, his life seemed less difficult.
Moreover, after moving into the four-storey house in Linh Quang Lane, Mr. Thanh continued to sell old clothes to take care of his daily living.
Mr. Thanh prepares to go out to sell clothes.
(Photo: Mai Anh)
Looking for companions
At first, the group only intended to carry out Ha Noi Chung Tay within 3 months because of their limited financial resources. However, after implementing the project, Hai, Son and Vuong Anh realized that they couldn't abandon the elders because they are part of their “family” now.
Minh Son (left) and Thanh Hai (right) discuss plans for the future of the project.
(Photo: Mai Anh)
Intended to continue the project in the future but with limited financial resources, the group wishes to find more young people to join and accompany on the long way.
Ha Noi Chung Tay also hopes to welcome more homeless people into their home, create jobs for them and expand the project to other provinces, which follow the message the group wants to share: “Bring a home to the homeless.”
According to data reported by the Hanoi Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, by the end of November 2022, Hanoi has received 454 homeless people into social protection centers.
However, under the street lights of Hanoi, it is not difficult to see homeless people along the streets of Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Long Bien... They can sleep anywhere - on the sidewalks, under bridges, at bus stops…
There have been many volunteer groups supporting the homeless, but the most common ways of helping are donating food, drink and clothes. Projects that bring shelters to the homeless are rare and need to be enlarged.
In your opinion, what do homeless people need the most?
Shelters
Clothes
Food
Others
