Making a Difference Through Compassion
From supporting communities in need to organizing fundraising campaigns, my charity work is driven by the belief that small acts of kindness can create lasting impact.
Ba Thuoc District Red Cross Society, Thanh Hoa
Knowing there is a wealth disparity is one thing. Seeing the scale of it is another.
I embarked on a journey to the small mountain district of Ba Thuoc, Thanh Hoa. I went with a small team, supplies loaded onto our truck. Arriving at the event venue, I saw about a hundred individuals sitting beneath the stage, patiently waiting for us. Our task was to distribute these supplies to the families in need.
After a quick introduction, the chief began calling people up one by one, and we handed them the packages. The supplies themselves were simple: secondhand clothes, a few cartons of milk, packets of noodles, and a box of rice. I still remember how each person's face lit up as they received them. For many in the city, this isn't much; but to them, it meant everything. Behind every package we handed out was a face, a voice, a story. Those moments also instilled in me a new hope, a happiness that I had contributed a good deed.
On my way home, I saw the bigger picture. The houses were primitive, made out of bamboo strips - fragile on their own, but strong when together. This truth was also evident in the people: everyone's lives were intertwined. Everyone knew each other, and helped each other build the village up from nothing. This sense of unity was a first for me, and will always be a spectacle in my humble eyes.
Back home, I quickly got caught up in projects and homework. While I was sitting at my desk, battling deadlines, a fleeting thought kept recurring. I thought of the people in Ba Thuoc, then reflected on my own situation. I had everything, yet nothing; they had nothing, yet everything. I realized I'd been neglecting myself in pursuit of achievements. I left Bá Thước with empty hands but a full heart, reminded that life itself should not lose sight of the human core: empathy. It's not just about what we build or achieve, but about the lives we touch along the way.
Will to Live Center in Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi
Walking into the center, I thought I was coming to "teach". Instead, I left having learnt something.
I went with a group of around 5 other people, all around my age. Our task was to help members of the disabled community understand technology, as well as Q&A's and conversations. We spent time guiding the participants on how to use basic computer tools. Seeing the determination in their eyes as they typed their first email, or changed the wallpaper on the homescreen, left me awestruck. These were unprecedented moments for them, something I was lucky enough to witness.
Moving on to the Q&A's and exchanges, we started off with handing out gifts. Music and laughter filled the room, erasing the lines between "volunteer" and "participants". What I saw was a community, sharing experiences and energy with one another.
This experience pushed me to rethink my own assumptions. I had come expecting to give, but left with a whole different perspective. Resilience is not just a word, it is lived every day by those who continue to thrive above challenges I can barely imagine.
Water for Future Project in Y Ti, Lao Cai
I went to Lao Cai right after returning from the United States.
Our destination was Y Ti, a remote mountain village near the border. With a small group of three students and a couple of adults, we were headed there to troubleshoot and improve the water infrastructure within the village. What began as a simple research idea (improving water quality) had evolved into something much bigger, with real-world applications.
The team proceeded with on-site research on the water source and began the restoration of the village's communal water tank, repairing the walls, installing a metal roof, replacing old bamboo pipes with more rigid PVC pipes, and adding solar lights for power. With a budget of $2,500, and the help of both students and residents, this quickly turned into a true community effort.
Watching the clean water flow out of the pipes, we were all satisfied with the result. Water was a symbol of this village, as it was built around this one river in the early days. Restoring the water source also meant restoring the spirit of the village, and it boosted the morale of everyone.
Leaving Y Tý, I carried with me both joy and reflection: water—something we often take for granted—can awaken hope in an entire community. I realized that when cared for and valued, even the simplest things can become meaningful and full of life, just like the clear streams of Y Tý.