Volunteers prepare for the “Sharing Spring – Tết Filled with Love” programme in HCM City. — Photo sggp.org.vn

HCM CITY — As Tết (Lunar New Year) approaches, thousands of young volunteers in HCM City are joining the annual Spring Volunteer campaign to support disadvantaged people and help bring them a warm and meaningful holiday.

In Alley 306 on Nguyễn Văn Tạo Street in Hiệp Phước Commune, the sound of shovels and cement mixers filled the air as student volunteers from the Faculty of Construction at the HCM City Open University worked to repair the house of Nhữ Văn Dũng, a near-poor resident.

The house, home to Dũng’s family for nearly 20 years, had seriously deteriorated and was frequently flooded during high tides or heavy rains.

For the family, renovating the house had long seemed out of reach.

That changed on January 15, when volunteers under the Spring Volunteer campaign began repair work.

“From now on, I no longer worry about flooding, and my family can welcome Tết in a safe and sturdy home,” Dũng said.

Võ Hồng Đoan, one of 15 volunteers assigned to the site, described the experience as unforgettable.

“Working under the scorching sun, learning each construction step and contributing to help Uncle Dũng has become one of the most meaningful memories of my student life,” she said.

The project was coordinated by the Hiệp Phước Commune Youth Union with a total budget of more than VNĐ100 million (US$3,800).

Meanwhile, at No. 5 Đinh Tiên Hoàng Street in Đa Kao Ward, nearly 400 volunteers gathered for the programme called “Sharing Spring – Tết Filled with Love”, preparing traditional bánh tét (round glutinous rice cake) and food packages for people in need.

The space was filled with the aroma of sticky rice, mung beans, and simmering braised pork with eggs.

Nguyễn Phương Ân, a student from the University of Transport-HCM City Campus, said wrapping bánh tét for disadvantaged families gave her a special sense of connection.

“I usually make bánh tét with my parents at Tết, but this time I feel deeply moved knowing these cakes carry our love to those facing difficulties,” she said.

Võ Quốc Bình, head of the Volunteer Connection Department under the HCM City Youth Social Work Centre, said the programme prioritises support for lottery ticket sellers, children attending charity classes and people in particularly difficult circumstances.

“Each gift is not only material assistance but also a message of care and sharing from the community,” he said.

The campaign also reached special facilities across the city.

At Drug Rehabilitation Facility No.1 in Xuân Thới Sơn Commune, the Journey of Faith programme brought sports activities, cultural exchanges and career counselling to trainees.

A short film about the trainees’ families moved many to tears, reinforcing the message that compassion and inclusion extend to everyone.

At the Thi Nghè Centre for Disabled Orphans, volunteers organised the Sharing Spring – Connecting Love festival, presenting 200 gifts and spending time playing and interacting with the children.

The centre's director, Nguyễn Lý Ngọc Thu, said the activities provided more than material support.

“For children who lack family warmth and struggle with illness year-round, these moments of care help create precious memories filled with love,” she said.

The peak day of the Sharing Spring programme took place on January 25 as part of the 18th Spring Volunteer Campaign, jointly organised by the HCM City Youth Union, the Việt Nam Youth Federation and the HCM City Students’ Association.

Activities were held simultaneously in residential areas, schools and social facilities throughout the city.

This year’s campaign features expanded scale and coverage, attracting hundreds of thousands of volunteer shifts.

It will continue until mid-February, focusing on supporting Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, policy beneficiary families, people with meritorious services, disadvantaged households, vulnerable children, workers, and members of the armed forces.

Through home repairs, food preparation and heartfelt companionship, the city’s youth continue to affirm their vital role in caring for the community and ensuring that no one is left behind as spring arrives. — VNS