First Spring in 23 years

Home for Bui Duy Kich, 39, his wife and young son for several months in 2007 was a temporary shelter after their home had been destroyed in a storm.
Sitting on a small red stool sipping a cup of tea, Kich is a happy man. As rain drops fall through the thatched roof around him, partially soaking his shirt, he listens to the sounds around him. Turning his head toward the sounds of people talking, laughing and working, he smiles, knowing they are working on his new house.

Starting life a new in their new home gives Kich, with his wife and young son, much to look forward to. Kich lost his sight over 25 years ago when he was working on his motorcycle. The elastic band around the seat snapped and the hook at the end severely cut his eye. Infection soon spread to both eyes causing permanent blindness.

His older brother Bui Duy Hung, now 50, just completed his military service then and asked Kich to live with him. As he adjusted to his life without sight, Kich learned to rely on his instincts and his ability to adapt. Living on land that his brother gave him, Kich married a local girl, Le Thi Anh Mai. They have a three-year-old son, Le Duy Khanh. Mai takes on odd jobs which contribute to the family income of about 500,000 Vietnamese dong (US$31) a month.

Kich's former house, with its thatched roof and walls, hardly offered any protection in the long rainy season. During a storm several months ago, his house was destroyed by strong winds. His wife and son were out visiting friends and Kich was, thankfully, unhurt. But they were left homeless.

Habitat learnt of their plight and decided to build a house for Kich and his family at no cost to them. Known as a "love house", the funds for construction were raised by Sozo Café in Ho Chi Minh City which in turn provided youth volunteers to work on Kich's house.

"Seeing the team reach out to the people we helped was a real joy," said Rachel Lutz who was one of the Sozo organizers of the Habitat for Humanity build in My Tho. "This experience will affect the way they now look at poverty. Most had never experienced seeing poor communities before yet they created a bond with the people very quickly."

The near constant rains did not deter the team from working as they carried bricks, moved sand by wheelbarrow through the thick mud and worked on the walls of Kich's house. During their work breaks, Kich shared his personal secrets of how he catches crickets for fishing in the ponds near his house. After the build, a visibly moved Kich said: "For the last 23 years I have had no hope and no springtime in my life. Even though it is rainy season now, I have spring for the first time in 23 years and I am so happy!"

One of the volunteers, 18-year-old Dang Minh Tri said: "I was overwhelmed by the generosity and friendship in the communities where we worked. Kich told us this house will help him and his family with new hope and that his son will no longer live in poverty. It makes me feel good to know that we came here to help change the lives of people who lived in poverty most of their lives."

Photos and report by Mikel Flamm.

Find out more about Habitat for Humanity's work in Vietnam