Empower war veterans to do production & business

(VBSP News) There are some soldiers returning from battlefield with wooden crutches or loss of more than 80% of their health. However, the core value they have gained is the warrior spirit. Despite any difficulties, when being "energized", they are willing to contribute to enriching the family and country.

Mr. Le Van Nga borrows capital to raise cows and goats

Efforts to overcome difficulties

After 4 years of doing international duty in the Cambodian battlefield, in 1986, Mr. Nguyen Van Vinh returned to his hometown with the appearance of a 1/4 war invalid. He had left a leg and carried 27 wounds on his body.

On the day he returned, he was supported by his family and local authorities to gain more energy to be “War invalid but not incapacity". He thought: “The first thing is to win yourself, the second is to take care of the family and the third is to contribute to the society. From the 1,500m2 land given by parents, he was determined to exploit the land for planting trees and raising animals. At this time, he did a lot of work and learned veterinary knowledge. Up to now, he has over 9000m2 land and raises more cattles.

In 2017, his eldest daughter wants to work in Japan. Therefore, he was supported by communal War Veteran’s Association and Savings and Credit group to access VBSP's capital. He received a loan size of VND 50 million. “My daughter sent me VND 20 million/month on average. Also, my second daughter has just flown to Japan for 2 months”, Mr. Vinh excitedly said. Currently, he is repairing the roof and actively participating in local activities.

Mr. Tran Van Tu - Chairman of Hoa Loc Commune People's Committee said that: “Mr. Vinh is an example of the wounded soldier who overcomes difficulties and is energetic in economic development”. Also according to Mr. Tran Van Tu, up to now, outstanding loan of VBSP transferred to War Veteran’s Association has reached 2 billion VND, there is no overdue debt, 100% of group members are war invalids belonging to newly escaped from poverty households (36/36 households).

Increasing loan size

Ms. Tran Lam Thuy Duong - Deputy Director of VBSP in Ben Tre said: “At present, VBSP in Ben Tre is entrusting lending steps through 4 mass organizations, including War Veteran’s Association to help war invalids who belong to poor households, near-poor households, households with in difficult circumstances or with meritorious services to the revolution.

Funds from VBSP fully meet the demand for loans of the poor who participates in the project of developing diversified livelihoods with many different purposes such as going to work abroad for limited terms, developing production and business, service, building ..., contributing to preventing "black credit". From March 2019 until now, VBSP has disbursed over VND 100 billion for loans from VND 50 million to VND 100 million.

Typically, Mr. Nguyen Huu Tri, a war invalid in Thanh Hai commune, Thanh Phu district is supported to access capital from VBSP. In 2018, he was considered to lend VND 50 million to buy a pregnant cow. His family life is difficult and there is no cultivated land, however, Mr. Tri and his wife hope that they will increase revenue and improve life quality thanks to VBSP's capital in the short time.

Mr. Le Van Nga – a 3/4 war invalid, who was born in 1965, My Hung commune, Thanh Phu district is also an example of the warrior spirit. In 2017, he accessed VBSP's capital and received VND 30 million to raise cows and goats. After one year, his family escaped from poverty and borrowed VND 50 million from VBSP to continue to expanding scale.

According to Ms. Tran Lam Thuy Duong, next time, via mass organizations, if borrowers have feasible plans and use the capital for the right purpose, mass organizations and group leaders will supplement more capital to help them reach higher loan size, creating opportunities to expand production scale.