In Village 1, Thanh Binh Commune, Da Nang City, Ms. Sen is carrying forward a simple but powerful dream: to give her three children a safer, more stable place to grow up.
Five years ago, Sen’s life took a turn when her husband passed away due to a traffic accident. Since then, she has been raising their three young children (aged 10, 9 and 5) on her own. After losing her husband, Sen moved back to her father’s house so she could receive support from her family while caring for her children.
Now under the roof of her father’s house live six people: Sen, her three children, her father, and her brother. For many years, this small house has protected the family through some of their hardest moments. Yet as the children grow older, the limited space can no longer fully meet their needs for comfort, privacy, and a healthy environment to study, rest, and grow. With Sen’s brother planning to get married, living space will soon become even more limited.
Despite these hardships, Sen continues to work hard and look ahead. She used to work as a factory worker and has recently taken training in basic physiotherapy to support her work in newborn care. Her goal is to improve her income so that she can better provide for her children. Each day, she travels nearly 30 kilometers to balance work, childcare, and family responsibilities. This demanding routine is not easy, but Sen keeps going with the hope that her children will have better opportunities in the future.
With support from Habitat Vietnam, that future is now becoming more possible.
Ms. Sen and her children on their plot of land where the new house would be built.
Sen is preparing to build a modest new house near her father’s home. The house will be 36 square meters, including one living room, two bedrooms, and a toilet. Simple as it may seem, this home will bring a meaningful change to the family’s life. For Sen and her children, this will be a safe space that is completely theirs — a place where the children can sleep peacefully, study with fewer distractions, and grow up with greater stability. The new home will also allow Sen to remain close to her father, so she can still receive family support while focusing on becoming more independent. This balance is especially important for a single mother who is working hard to raise three children and build a more secure life.
Ms. Sen laid the bricks of her new stable home, with the help of international volunteers.
For Sen, Habitat Vietnam’s support is more than financial assistance. The support brings encouragement, reassurance, and a powerful reminder that her family is not alone. Through this opportunity, Sen has the chance to turn years of hardship into a new beginning — one where her children can grow up in a safer home, with more dignity, comfort, and hope.
This house will help Sen’s family live a better life, not only today but in the years ahead. With a stable home, Sen can focus more on her work and income, her children can focus more on their studies and development, and the whole family can look toward the future with greater confidence.
