In Tich Thien commune, Tra On district, Vinh Long province, almost people here know about social activities by Quan Am Pagoda, especially its supports to learning pupils and students.
Student Võ Thị Hoàng Anh from Vinh Xuan high school said "My familly is poor and far away, I usually stay at school for afternoon classes. Knowing about my disadvantaged situation, Quan Am Pagoda has provided me and similar students with lunch and water. I am very grateful to the pagoda. "
Venerable Thích Tánh Bình, Abbot of Quan Am Pagoda is the person initiating this support. He said: “This countryside area is sopoor, I have mobilized resources from many philanthropists for taking care of the material and spiritual life ofpoor students with food, cloths, learning toolkits, tuition fee, etc…So they can continue their education for becoming useful people in the society”.
Understanding the disadvantaged situation of many students who come from poor families, live far away from school and have no money for lunch, the pagoda has launched the program providing free lunch for these students since 2000. Beginning with a dozen of students, the program now provideshundreds of meals to students and their parents.
Mrs. Võ Thị Ý, a resident of Huu Thanh commune, said "I have an orphaned grandchild and the monks of Quan Am Pagoda gave him a bicycle forgoing to school as well as clothes, books and lunch. So my grandchild didn’t drop out of school. I am extremely grateful to the monks".
At present, Quan Am Pagoda has been providing free lunch to pupils from Tich Thien, Tra Con, Thuan Thoi and Thien My communes of Tra On district and An Phu Tan commune of Cau Ke district ... Every week, the pagoda provides 400 free lunch sets, from Monday to Thursday.
In addition, Quan Am Pagoda also took part in many charity programs for providing free medical examination for the poor, presenting Mid-Autumn gifts to children, giving scholarships to students, providing support to lonely elderly, building charity houses, presenting gift sets during the traditional New Year, Buddhist Parents Day Festival, paying charity visits to Vietnamese Heroic Mother on National holidays and supporting coffins to Buddhists’ funeral.
NL (Phatgiao.org.vn)
