Many masons in the central Vietnamese province of Quang Nam have voluntarily joined in a team to offer free labor to rotationally help one another to build houses when a member needs.

The trend has developed and the team, including members in Binh Hai Commune of Thang Binh District, has recently extended help to other needy locals, especially the elderly and underprivileged people.

Naming themselves “the team of cooperation,” the masons have brought warm shelter to many poor people who admitted it is like their dream come true.

The team was formed a year ago and 15 new houses have been built for free so far.

The group was co-founded by four masons, Nguyen Ngoc Danh, Hoang Kim Hoai, Le Minh Trung, and Nguyen Ngoc Tua.

They are all living in Phuoc An 2 Hamlet.

Danh, the team leader, recalled, “In March last year, Tua repaired his deteriorating house. I knew his family was in financial difficulty so Hoai, Trung, and I agreed to help him by building it anew free of charge.

“After the construction of the house was completed, Tua promised that he would provide free labor to rotationally help the other three of us.

“Since then, we have all consented to help one another that way whenever a teammate needs.”

The story was circulated among masons in the locality and many others have asked to join them, Danh added.

The “team of cooperation” was officially set up in September 2014 and has 30 masons now, with the motto “Sharing Free Labor, Building New Houses.”

Those members organize a meeting every month to announce the number of houses they are going to build for free.

Not only do they construct houses for the group members but they also extend help to other needy people in their locality, especially the elderly and disadvantaged people.

Ho Thi Luong, 75, in Phuoc An 2 Hamlet, is one of the beneficiaries.

She said she had never dreamed of living in a well-built house like the one constructed by the group.

“The state provided me with funds to pay for construction materials and the team of masons built my house completely gratis,” she said.

Many other impoverished people have been helped that way by the group.