Teacher Dau Thang

From a young age, Ms. Dau Thang was taught by her mother about the value of sharing, caring and helping people in difficult circumstances. Those simple lessons gradually became a part of her way of life, and when she grew up, she always found ways to contribute to the community through practical work.

Referring to her volunteer journey, Ms. Thang said that everything comes from the word "fate". It was her sympathy for those in difficult lives that motivated her to take action instead of just standing by and watching.

In November 2020, when the people of Quang Tri had to struggle with the historic flood, Ms. Thang and the volunteer group Hai Phong set out to deliver relief gifts and life jackets to people in flooded areas.

During the complicated developments of the Covid-19 epidemic in the 2020-2021 period, witnessing many people facing difficulties due to lack of necessities, she continued to implement the program "Delivery for 0 VND during the Covid season". Ms. Thang called on everyone to join hands to donate necessities, then personally transport and hand-deliver the gifts to families in need of support.

In 2021, when the epidemic became complicated in many localities, Ms. Thang continued to combine with the Hai Phong volunteer group to go to the epidemic area in Si Pa Phin commune, Nam Po district, Dien Bien province to provide supplies and give gifts to support the people.

Each trip is a different situation, a different story. But the common point in Ms. Thang's journey is still the desire to contribute a small part so that people who are facing difficulties have more motivation to overcome adversity.

Most recently, in February 2023, when she learned about the situation of Tran Anh Khoa (born 2012, Vinh Phuc) having to take care of her mother with cancer alone, Ms. Thang spent her own money and mobilized relatives to support her family. The amount of 17 million VND donated has eased the burden on Khoa's family.

For more than a year, we have regularly brought "zero-dollar breakfast" to poor patients

One of the activities that left many marks in Ms. Thang's volunteer journey is the program "Morning gift for 0 VND".

In 2021, she and her friends and benefactors established a group with the desire to bring free breakfasts to patients and their families being treated at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion. The program is carried out every Saturday.

To prepare for each gift giving ceremony, Ms. Thang usually wakes up around 4 am. The travel distance of nearly 70 km, both there and back, did not cause her to give up her regular job.

For more than a year, regardless of rain or shine, on her old motorbike, she still regularly brought morning gifts to patients and family members.

Behind each simple meal is not only material support, but also the message that people in difficulty always receive care and sharing from the community.