The ‘Zero đồng’ building team helps repair an old house of a poor household in Đồng Hới City in central Quảng Bình Province. Photo dantri.com.vn

QUẢNG BÌNH — A group of builders in Đồng Hới City in central Quảng Bình Province has gathered to repair downgraded houses or build new ones for people in poverty, free of charge.

After more than 10 years, the ‘Zero đồng’ building team has built or repaired more than 50 houses for poor households, wounded soldiers and martyrs' families in the city.

The model targets disadvantaged people and was implemented by the Youth Union of Đức Ninh Commune in 2000.

Trần Mạnh Hoàng, secretary of Đức Ninh Commune’s Youth Union, told the online newspaper Baoquangbinh that the idea of gathering volunteers to set up a team to help local people began in 2010.

The operation method was simple. The union would mobilise funds to buy building materials, and members would be in charge of building or repairing houses, he said.

Đặng Thị Ba is one of the households that has been supported by the team.

Ba is a poor woman living alone in a severely degraded house in Đức Môn Village in Đức Ninh Commune.

In 2014, she was supported with VNĐ30 million (US$1,302) by the city’s Party Committee to build a new house. However, the cost to build a house was nearly VNĐ70 million while the house was too downgraded to be repaired.

Ba didn’t know what to do. The team and the union came to visit her house and decided to build a new house for her. They purchased construction materials and quickly started the job.

After about a month, the two-room house with an area of nearly 70 square metres was completed.

Looking at the new house, Ba couldn’t hide her joy.

“I'm old and poor. I can’t make money to have a new house. Thanks to the city’s Party Committee and the team, I don’t have to suffer from leaks on rainy days anymore,” she said.

The house of Nguyễn Thị Viện, resident in Đức Hoa Village, was built a long time ago and fell into disrepair. The team sent 10 members to repair the house, including cleaning the floor, painting the walls, and installing electric lines.

After more than two days, the repair was completed.

Viện said she earned a living by working in the rice field, which was enough to feed her family.

“I’m happy to get help from youth union members. The house no longer leaks, and I no longer worry when the rainy season comes,” she said.

The team has maintained 30 members, and 15 are key members having building skills. The team always welcomes new members. Those who do not have expertise in construction can contribute and support the team in carrying and transporting materials.

Since the beginning of this year, the team has repaired and built three new houses for poor households in the area, with a total of more than VNĐ200 million. The fund was mobilised from the youth union and individuals in the area.

Trần Thanh Phúc, the team leader, said bringing joy to people was their passion.

“We hope that in the near future, many models of helping poor households will be implemented so that more people can receive help,” he said.

Nguyễn Minh Vũ, chairman of Đức Ninh Commune’s People's Committee, said it was a very meaningful action that contributed to alleviating difficulties for poor households, showing the spirit of contributing to the community of young people, and helping spread kindness in society. — VNS