Various levels of the youth union have been actively mobilising the community’s support and are determined to complete the programme of eliminating temporary and dilapidated houses in the region.
Wherever needed, youth are present
Vinh Chau, a coastal town in Soc Trang Province, has a population that is over 70% ethnic minorities. Son So Phi, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Ward 2, shared: “Our locality has 330 poor and near-poor households in need of housing support. When the movement to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses was launched, I formed a volunteer youth team of 15 members. At the same time, we actively called for support from benefactors and mobilised youth members to participate in construction, dismantling old houses, transporting materials, and levelling the ground.”
Since the movement began, the volunteer team has helped build nearly 50 houses for poor households struggling with housing issues. “This is not just material support, it also reflects the spirit of solidarity, mutual support, and compassion of young people for the community. We will continue mobilising more resources to build houses for residents,” Son Phi added.
Youth union member Thach Pol, a volunteer in the movement, shared: “Seeing the joy of families receiving decent houses makes us very happy. I will continue contributing labour to build and repair houses for those in need.”
Trieu Thi Ngoc Diem, Secretary of the Soc Trang Provincial Youth Union, stated that the province’s youth organisations have maintained 101 volunteer teams with 1,142 youth members. These volunteers have helped over 200 disadvantaged households, elderly individuals living alone, and residents in remote areas, contributing labour worth over one billion VND.
Phan Dinh Nhan, Secretary of the Kien Giang Provincial Youth Union, reported that following the directive of the Provincial Steering Committee for Eliminating Temporary and Dilapidated Houses, the Kien Giang Youth Union has mobilised resources to repair seven houses (worth 320 million VND) and build 17 new ones (worth 827 million VND).
Recently, youth in Kien Giang have played a key role in mobilising efforts to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses. “We promote public awareness and call for contributions from businesses, social organisations, and the community to gather resources for house construction. Additionally, we form volunteer teams to assist in building and repairing houses for poor households, striving to complete the initiative by the end of June 2025,” said Phan Dinh Nhan.
In Tra Vinh Province, the “Joining Hands to Eliminate Temporary and Dilapidated Houses” campaign has received enthusiastic support from youth organisations and associations. Nguyen Thanh Nha, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Tra Vinh Provincial Youth Union, stated that since 2023, the province’s youth unions have mobilised resources to build over 100 humanitarian houses, with a total budget of nearly 7 billion VND. Through this effort, many disadvantaged youth members, students, and residents now have safe and stable homes.
In 2025, Tra Vinh plans to build and repair 2,283 houses for policy beneficiaries, poor, and near-poor households, with a total budget exceeding 120 billion VND. During Youth Month 2025, over 1,200 youth members will participate in meaningful projects and activities.
The joy of a secure home
Duong Van Ut, an 80-year-old resident of Lo 15 Hamlet, Hung Yen Commune, An Bien District, Kien Giang Province, is a former youth volunteer of the 1C Route. He once helped transport weapons and supplies to support soldiers during the resistance war against the US. He is about to move into his new “Humanitarian house”, a 50m2 home worth 80 million VND, funded by the Kien Giang Youth Union with support from the Viet Truong Company (Ho Chi Minh City).
“The completion of this house is my lifelong dream and greatest happiness. Due to financial difficulties and being alone, I could never afford to build a proper home. Thanks to the youth volunteers, I finally have a safe place to live,” said Ut.
His house is one of many meaningful projects commemorating the 94th anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union’s founding (March 26, 1931 –2025) and welcoming the Party Congresses at various levels, leading up to the 14th National Party Congress. It also supports Kien Giang Province’s campaign to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses in 2025.
In Vinh Chau Town, Soc Trang Province, 70-year-old Tang Soi, a near-poor resident, expressed his gratitude: “Because of my age, I can’t do heavy labour. Thanks to the youth members who helped build my new house, I am truly happy and grateful.”
Similarly, Ly Thanh from Hamlet 3, Ward 7, Soc Trang City, was overjoyed to receive assistance from youth volunteers in building a new home.
Lam Van Man, Secretary of the Soc Trang Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Eliminating Temporary and Dilapidated Houses, stated that from 2021 to 2023, the province supported the construction and renovation of 36 houses for families of national contributors and 5,206 homes for poor households. However, many policy-beneficiary families, poor and near-poor households, and ethnic minority communities still lack safe housing and require community support.
Soc Trang aims to complete its housing support programme by the third quarter of 2025, assisting more than 8,430 households with a total budget of nearly 444 billion VND. The province is determined to complete this initiative under the National Target Programme for Socioeconomic Development in Ethnic Minority Areas before the Khmer New Year (Chol Chnam Thmay) in April 2025.
According to the Kien Giang Provincial Steering Committee’s plan, by the end of 2025, the province will support the construction of 2,314 new houses. The budget for each new home is 60 million VND, while each repaired house costs 30 million VND, totalling 153.39 billion VND. So far, 920 out of 2,314 new dwellings have begun construction (nearly 40%), with 335 completed and handed over (36.4%). Additionally, 326 out of 485 houses needing repairs have started renovation (67.22%), with 28 completed and handed over.
Nguyen Tien Hai, Secretary of the Kien Giang Provincial Party Committee, emphasised that the province will continue mobilising all possible social resources and committed support to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses by June 30, 2025.
The Southwestern region’s youth continue the tradition of solidarity and compassion, actively helping poor and near-poor households secure stable housing. This meaningful initiative showcases the volunteer spirit and active role of young people in social welfare programmes.
