Over the past year, religions in Tien Giang province have proactively participated in movements launched by local authorities and made practical contributions for the socio-economic development in the locality.

So far, religious communities have installed the lighting system and 329 security cameras in 35 rural roads as well as donated land for expanding rural roads and building bridges in the province.

In the field of education and health, religious organizations have presented 3,000 scholarships, books and bicycles worth 550 million VND to pupils, and presented health insurance cards to 125 disadvantaged people in the province

In particular, clinics of the Ante-Creation Caodai Church, the Tay Ninh Caodai Church and the Pure-land Buddhist Association in the province have offered free health to 50,000 patients, distributed free 150,000 packs of traditional medicines and provided acupuncture to 400,000 patients.

In addition, religious organizations have built 172 charity houses, nine rural bridges (one bridge by Protestantism and eight bridges by Hoa Hao Buddhism); the local Buddhist Sangha has taken care of 132 lonely elders, 209 children from poor families and 21 orphans; Nhan Ai handicapped school of Catholicism has raised 143 deaf and dumb children and 23 lonely elders.

Regarding to environment protection, local religions and the provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee have signed a cooperation agreement on protection environment and climate change adaptation.

Over the past years, religious organizations and their members operated successful programs for environmental protection and climate change adaptation in the locality including the installment of led lights, proper disposal of waste, tree plantation in religious worshipping places and their families, etc.

In particular, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Chapter in the province and the Agriculture and Rural Development Department has signed a cooperation program on the aquatic environmental protection in the province and released 220 tons of live fish into Tien river, as well as encouraged local Buddhists to not scatter votive papers in roads during funerals and not to burn them in worshipping ceremonies.

Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South) presents fresh water reservoirs

The Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South) has built and presented 51 fresh water reservoirs to schools in remote areas.

Traditional clinics of the Pure-land Buddhist Association and Caodai sects have used paper wrappers to replace plastic bags and refrained from using plant protection chemicals in planting traditional herbs.

All businesses run by Catholics have had a waste treatment area in accordance with the regulations of local authorities

PH