Zero Dong Tet Fair
Honestly, I wish I had known about this activity earlier!
Everything started just before Lunar New Year 2024, when a close friend invited me to join a special charity event. At first, I thought it would be a small community activity like many others I had participated in. But after learning more, I discovered it was actually the “Thai Binh Charity Tet Fair”- an annual event aiming to bring a warmer, more fulfilling holiday to underprivileged families across the province. Even better, the event was held right in my hometown and during my school break, so I signed up immediately without hesitation.
Before the event, our volunteer group gathered to plan out every detail of the organization process. I was assigned to the logistics and booth operations team - which sounded simple at first, but turned out to involve a tremendous amount of work. In the days leading up to the fair, my teammates and I spent hours unloading and sorting hundreds of gift boxes sent from all over the country. These donations came from businesses, individuals, and other charity groups, and included everything from clothes, rice, cooking oil, and instant noodles to household essentials like electric kettles, blankets, and rice cookers.
When the fair officially opened, the atmosphere became bustling and full of life. Hundreds of local residents - especially the elderly and children from disadvantaged areas -came to join. I was in charge of running a general goods booth, where we distributed daily necessities either at symbolic prices or completely free of charge. Handing each item directly to people - whether it was a bag of rice, a bottle of oil, or a small household appliance - was deeply touching. Some people smiled so brightly when receiving their gifts, while others, especially the elderly, had tears in their eyes as they thanked us. In that moment, I realized how even the smallest act of kindness could bring someone genuine happiness.
Beyond my booth duties, I also supported the organizing team with various tasks - transporting supplies, setting up the stage, decorating stalls, and cleaning up afterward. Though we spent long hours on our feet, the warm, cheerful energy among everyone made all the exhaustion disappear.
Another wonderful part of this experience was meeting so many other students and young volunteers from schools all across Thai Binh. Everyone was energetic, kind, and always ready to help. We worked side by side, shared water bottles and boxed meals, and laughed together whenever small “mishaps” happened while decorating or arranging gifts. Those simple, genuine moments made me feel like I truly belonged to a community.
When the fair finally ended, we all sat together in the schoolyard, looking at the now-empty stacks of boxes and the smiles that had filled the day. There was a shared sense of quiet joy - an unspoken pride in knowing that our efforts had brought something meaningful to others.
Looking back, that experience remains one of the most meaningful and memorable moments of my 2024. I didn’t just learn about event organization, teamwork, and communication with different groups of people - I also learned to appreciate the little things in life. Most importantly, I discovered that when we give to others, we receive just as much in return: joy, gratitude, and a heart warmer than ever before.
Stepping into 2025, with all the emotions from my previous participation still fresh, I didn’t hesitate to sign up for the fair once again. But this time was different - I wanted to challenge myself with a higher position :))))) That’s why I decided to apply for the role of Head Organizer.
During the interview, I gave it my all - showing how deeply I understood the event, showcasing every skill and experience I had gained from my previous involvement. And with that background, I was, of course, accepted for the position.
However, since this was a province-wide event involving many legal and administrative parties, there were actually several Head Organizers - each in charge of a specific area, with no one “above” anyone else. I was assigned to manage all the volunteer teams as well as the booths. This was quite a heavy task, considering the scale: around 15,000 donated items across dozens of booths from alumni, benefactors, and charitable organizations. On top of that, I also had to handle volunteer recruitment and coordination.
Thankfully, I wasn’t alone on this journey :)))) Alongside me were other members of the organizing committee. Together, we reached out to hundreds of potential donors, pitching our project and seeking support. After countless phone calls and follow-ups over several weeks, we successfully gathered more than 20 booths and 15,000 items from all over Vietnam - far exceeding expectations.
For the volunteer side, I got help from the Thai Binh Specialized High School volunteer team. I also recruited additional volunteers from Hanoi who were passionate about the project. The more, the merrier 🙂
A week before the event, I personally went to the venue to oversee the transportation and organization of goods. Once everything had arrived, it was time to sort and distribute items across the booths - probably the hardest part, given the massive quantity. But thankfully, with the help of over 150 volunteers, we worked side by side for several long days. It was exhausting, but also incredibly joyful.
The later stages of the event were quite similar to last year. Honestly, in this new leadership role, I not only gained new skills and responsibilities but also a whole new perspective on what this fair truly means. It’s not just a place to spread love outward, but also a space that creates love from within.
As a leader, I guided my team successfully - we ate together, laughed together, and worked together for months. It was truly an unforgettable experience.
Of course, in the future, I still hope to return and continue contributing to the “Zero Dong - Tet Fair” in Thai Binh, because I’ve come to realize that:
When you give, you truly gain something everlasting.
