Amid the hustle and bustle of the city, there are winds that seem to pause – not out of fatigue, but to linger beside lives in need of warmth. This spirit is at the heart of this year’s volunteer initiative, “Where the Wind Stops.” The program consists of four main activities: donation and fundraising booths; the hair donation festival “The Second Journey of Hair”; the “Seven Nights of Love” event; and the “Where the Wind Stops” main program.
Cover of the 2025 Series of Activities “HUFLIT Youth Actively Engages in Volunteer Activities”
The series of activities officially began with donation booths set up at the Sư Vạn Hạnh and Hóc Môn campuses. Here, students and faculty could contribute items such as milk, cakes, and stuffed animals to support those in need. Beyond collecting donations, the booths also offered unique fundraising products: a collection of lanyards representing the eight faculties, along with charming wooden keychains – both serving as memorable keepsakes and helping to promote the spirit of sharing and compassion.
Donation Booth at the Su Van Hanh Campus
Donation Booth at the Hoc Mon Campus
The booth at the Su Van Hanh campus received enthusiastic support from both students and faculty, providing great motivation for HVC to continue spreading love and care. According to the published list, the total donated items included 102 stuffed animals, 110 cartons of milk, and 40 boxes of Solite cakes. As for fundraising, the total amount collected reached 7.2 million VND – comprising 2.7 million from lanyard sales, 1.5 million from keychain sales, and 3 million in cash donations from faculty members and benefactors. All items and funds were used to prepare meaningful gifts for children at Thiên Phước Orphanage as part of the “Where the Wind Stops” program.
Continuing the spirit of spreading love, after nearly a month of preparation, the hair donation festival “The Second Journey of Hair” was held at Hall B, Su Van Hanh campus (HUFLIT), attracting nearly 100 participants. Each donated strand of hair became a priceless gift, contributing hope and strength to cancer patients. A special feature of this year’s program was its expanded participation: not only HUFLIT students, but also elementary school students, university students from Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces (such as Hanoi and Binh Dinh), freelance workers, healthcare staff, and even elderly participants – all coming together with a shared spirit of compassion.
Images of HUFLIT students actively participating in the hair donation festival
Images showing enthusiastic participation in the hair donation festival across different age groups
Born from the desire to share love, the “Seven Nights of Love” initiative by the HUFLIT Volunteer Club (HVC) emerged like a gentle breeze amidst the bustling city. Saigon shines brightly at night, yet it is also when the hardships of those making a living become most visible. Over seven consecutive nights, volunteers traveled along central streets such as Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Nguyễn Trãi, and CMT8, purchasing goods from elderly street vendors and then delivering these gifts to homeless individuals.
Beyond simply giving gifts, volunteers took the time to listen, converse, and record authentic everyday stories from the vendors themselves. These images and stories were shared on the HUFLIT Volunteer Club – HVC Facebook page, aiming to spread a message of compassion and to encourage the community to support small-scale vendors in need.
Members take commemorative photos after purchasing goods to support a street vendor
Images of HVC members giving gifts during the “Seven Nights of Love” activity
The final stop, and also the most emotionally moving, was the “Where the Wind Stops” program held at Thiên Phước Orphanage (140 Đỗ Đăng Tuyển Street, An Nhơn Tây Commune), which cares for children with disabilities and cerebral palsy.
Facing innocent eyes and hands that cannot move freely is never easy, but even a gentle handhold, a light hug, or a simple conversation is enough for volunteers to realize that their presence today is the most precious gift for the children.
Some images of HVC members engaging in activities and playing with the children at Thien Phuoc Orphanage
HVC members take commemorative photos with the children at the orphanage
Each journey is not merely about offering help, but about encounters – between hearts ready to give and hearts yearning to be touched. “Where the Wind Stops” is not an ending, but the beginning of new journeys, where HUFLIT students continue stepping into the world carrying compassion and a desire to contribute. It is hoped that in future endeavors, the HUFLIT Volunteer Club (HVC) will continue to receive support from faculty, students, and benefactors – so that every pause of the wind carries abundant love and hope.
