A Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union-led group consisting of young builders from north-central Vietnam has committed itself to the cause of assisting the impoverished in constructing or repairing their abodes for no fee.

For four years in a row, a voluntary group of builders self-branded as “Youth Craftsmen” in Dong Hoi City, Quang Binh Province, has worked nonstop to mend and build houses for the destitute.

What sets them apart from other construction teams is that they charge nothing for their service.

This righteous act has earned them a much more amicable nickname, the “Chargeless Craftsmen.”

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Dang Thi Chau, 60, from Duc Mon Commune, Duc Ninh Ward, Dong Hoi, is a poor woman of a desperate background.

As her husband abandoned the family long ago, Chau has to rear four children by herself.

When this winter came, her already dilapidated abode could no longer strain itself against the thrashings of nature, and no husband meant no mending whatsoever for anytime soon.

Amid such desperation, toward the end of 2018, the local Red Cross Association timely decided to provide Chau with VND75 million (US$3,240) to repair the house.

Then again, the fund quickly fell short, as Chau found out there was no way to cover the cost with it.

Catching wind of the dire circumstance, Tran Manh Hoang, the local Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union secretary, immediately offered assistance.

In just a matter of days, some 20 Union youths appeared, and got to work on mending Chau’s house right away.

The team first started by demolishing the unmendable rooftop and hulls of the house in two days straight.

Afterward, every day, two of its members would linger at the house for further repairs and add-ons.

More than a week later, the construction finished.

To Chau’s surprise, the process was touchingly free of charge.

According to Hoang, this is not the first time this team, comprised of builders, has agreed to do a philanthropic job.

Prior to Chau’s case, the group, nicknamed “Chargeless Craftsmen,” had mended more than 40 other houses for the needy across the ward.

“Since the founding of the team, we have made it clear that it would accept tasks free of charge,” Hoang affirmed.

“Its targets lie among poverty-stricken families, who would have no way to improve their dwellings without the funding of respective organizations.

“Then again, such funding can at most cover the material cost, excluding the fee to hire builders. Thus, our offering help without seeking anything in return is just the proper thing to do.”

What goes around comes around

Not satisfied with just the mending work, the “Chargeless Craftsmen” have been known to erect new houses for destitute people.

The team, Hoang said, even went so far as calling for additional funding, so that said houses could be reinforced aptly.

Dang Thi Ba of Duc Ninh Ward used to live with her elder sister.

Due to a family dispute, she was cast out, but not before receiving a small plot of land from her sister, and stimulant of VND55 million (US$2,374) in support from the Dong Hoi City administration.

Even so, the lonesome woman found no way to help herself to a humble abode she always yearned for.

Eventually, the “Chargeless Craftsmen” arrived, and quickly moved into work to construct a new house for Ba, which altogether took them a month to complete.

Since then, as Ba has no family of her own, she has fondly thought of the team members as her sons.

She would find every occasion the team comes back to check her house to endow them with happiness, and cookies.

“Once you are on the team, helping others in need shall become your one and only creed,” Hoang said.

“Happiness and cheers from them are our greatest motivation to brace on, not monetary rewards.”  

Willing to dedicate days to philanthropic act on monthly basis

Since day one, the team has maintained a stable workforce of 30 personnel, 15 of whom are core members.

All these young workers come from humble backgrounds, being seasonal masons, among other things.

Team leader Tran Thanh Phuc, himself a veteran builder, is regarded as the founding father of the team.

Despite his borderline destitute situation, he is still willing to offer a helping hand every time a need arises.

Before long, the practice has become common throughout the team.

Each month, all members are prepared to put aside some free days, so that the “Chargeless Craftsmen” can be mobilized in a moment’s notice, without fail.

“Though we are all poor one way or another, should we still retain strength and vigor, it falls onto us to extend a hand to the less privileged. It’s the most practical act we young’uns can do for others,” Phuc said.

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