On April 8, 2014, Habitat for Humanity Vietnam (HFH Vietnam) in partnership with Siam Cement Group (SCG) officially handed over a new home to Mr Nguyen Van Thuong and his family in seasonal floods-affected Cai Be district, Tien Giang province. Initiative partners Tien Giang Union of Friendship Organization (TUFO), Cai Be District Fatherland Front, District People’s Committee and Commune People’s Committee also attended the festivities.

Tran Van Nhan, 55, and his family live in Dong Minh commune, Tien Hai district, in a Northern province with some of the highest rates of poverty throughout Vietnam: Thai Binh. As a seasonal farmer and contract mason,both unstable occupations, Nhan has managed to earn enough income for basic necessities such as food, electricity and water and sometimes medication. Thus, saving for housing repairs has not been a priority in spite of having to live in inadequate housing.

Ms Phan Thi Sim and her family welcomed the delegation from Habitat for Humanity Vietnam (HFH Vietnam) to their new home with pride still radiating  from their eyes.We were fortunate to meet all the members of the family including Sim’s children and grandchildren. Everyone had travelled to, and gathered in, the home to celebrate the death anniversary of her husband, who passed away 5 years ago, according to Vietnamese tradition whereby the passing of loved ones is honored with ancestral worship and food prepared and shared together.

Truong Viet Quang, 1973 works as a seasonal farmer and contract mason. His wife, Le Thi Hoa, 1973 also works as a farmer. She suffers from a health problem. They have 3 children,

- (Son) Dong, grade 11

- (Daughter) Hoa, grade 7

- (Daughter) Phuong, grade 5