Quietly start the bridge of love

She said it was not a random choice but an "unnamed mission" where the heart leads the way.

- Ảnh 1. — Ms. Nga received support money from philanthropists.

From a Party cell secretary to a journey accompanying Agent Orange victims

In 2019, when she returned to work at the An Long village Party Cell (Que Phong commune, Que Son district, Quang Nam province), Ms. Nga was trusted with the role of Party Cell Secretary, in charge of leading the newly merged residential area from An Long 1 and An Long 2 with more than 400 households. In the journey to build a model new rural residential area, she soon realized: to develop sustainably, it is necessary to first care for and support those in the most vulnerable positions: poor households, near-poor households, and people in especially difficult circumstances. "If we want people to rise up, we must first create motivation for them to believe that they can live better," she said.

From that thought, she began to mobilize and connect kind-hearted people to help the villagers. Also from the trips and visits, she touched another pain: the victims of Agent Orange/dioxin.

Images of children with brain atrophy, hydrocephalus, twisted limbs, heads larger than their bodies, stunted bodies, and scaly skin, or women who could not have children because of toxic exposure, living quietly day by day... haunted her.

"When I saw it with my own eyes, I understood the terrible destruction of war. The innocent smiles and lifeless eyes of the children haunted me forever," she recalled.

- Ảnh 2. — Handing over houses to Agent Orange victims

Since then, in any charity activities, she always gives priority to Agent Orange victims.

In 2023, fate brought her to the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Que Son District as Vice President of the Association. For her, this is not only a job but also a natural continuation of the years of tirelessly caring for victims in the countryside. "It is not an exaggeration to call it a mission," she confided.

Trust from hearts of gold

During her years of work, what makes her happiest is not the number of gifts she has given, but the trust that the benefactors have placed in her. There are benefactors who, even though she did not call for them, proactively contacted her and sent money for her to give gifts. There are friends and younger siblings who regularly transfer funds every year for her to choose to support difficult cases. It is the clarity in every penny of income and expenditure, the giving to the right person at the right time, that has helped her build absolute trust from the benefactors. And the joy also multiplies from there when she personally represents the organization to present the certificate of recognition for the golden heart to the benefactor.

In particular, when campaigning to support medical examination and treatment, she always clearly identifies the necessary level, only calling for 10-30 million VND for each case and stopping when enough. "This will not create a mentality of dependence and greed. Because out there are many people in difficulty who also need help," she explained.

- Ảnh 3. — Giving breeding cows to families of Agent Orange victims

Many times, she received special spiritual gifts. For example, an Agent Orange victim, despite having damaged limbs, still wrote a poem for her. Or in another case, a family received a breeding cow that she had helped to donate. When the cow became pregnant, the owner called to show off...

The more she travels and sees, the more she understands her own luck and the more she wants to share. But volunteer work is not without its critics. Some people doubt that she "must have enough to eat to be so diligent", and that she is "busybody". "It sounds sad. But I don't allow myself to get tired. The best way to prove it is to continue working honestly and wholeheartedly", she said.

There is a memory that haunts her forever: a victim longed for a wheelchair so that his wife and children could take him out to the garden to play. She was able to get the wheelchair, but on the day she went to receive it, he passed away. "I feel so guilty because I couldn't bring him his last joy," she choked.

Spread kindness

Every year, she and the Association's Standing Committee have mobilized large amounts of funds from organizations, individuals, and philanthropists inside and outside the province, thereby providing hundreds of gifts, shelters, wheelchairs, and timely medical expenses for Agent Orange victims and those in especially difficult circumstances. She herself has proactively called for over 100 million VND each year to support the people.

What is most valuable is the way she works: clearly, transparently, only calling for enough for each case, so that the sharing can spread to many lives behind. It is this dedication and responsibility that has created absolute trust in the benefactors. Thanks to that, over the years, not only gifts, houses or breeding cows have been delivered, but also hope and motivation to live have been lit in unfortunate fates.

However, when asked about her achievements, she just smiled gently: "The important thing is that our people suffer less, I also feel relieved."

For Ms. Nga, social networks are not only a place to share emotions but also an effective "bridge" for advocacy. Thanks to Facebook, she connects with more sympathetic friends, and information about situations in need of help is spread quickly and accurately. "My job is not simply a responsibility but the spread of love. The joy of the philanthropist is to share, my joy is to be a bridge, but the joy of the victim is difficult to describe, sometimes it is just a bright look, a trembling handshake," she confided.

Ms. Nga went to the house to give gifts to Agent Orange victims.

PHOTO: TGCC

She understands that for Agent Orange victims, help is not only material but more importantly spiritual. "There are children who exist, not live. Without love and companionship, it is difficult for them and their families to have the motivation to overcome."

Ms. Cao Thi To Nga’s journey is a living testament to the beauty of dedication, compassion and kindness. She does not consider volunteering as a burden but as a natural way of life, a voluntary bond with the unfortunate.

The flame of kindness that she has quietly lit over the years is the clearest mark of a life of "quietly building a bridge of love". No need for praise or accolades, just a steadfast heart, loving enough to warm the unfortunate lives and leave a beautiful echo in the hearts of the community.