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| Father Bui Van Tang witnesses check being handed to Thach Van Nhon by representative of Help The Poor, Mr. Ho Cong Hung (Photo: NTC). |
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| Prayers by different people of religious groups for success (Photo: NTC). |
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| Scoops of earth were tossed as part of the ground breaking ceremony(Photo: NTC). |
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| Condition of the existing bridge at Hoà Bình village. (Photo: NTC). |
Kien Giang (3/30/2007) - During last year's visit to Mong Tho parish in November 2007, Help The Poor team received request by Father Nguyen Van Thuoc to build 2 bridges in the Cai San area. The village where one of the bridge will be built is Hoa Binh, about 200 meters off National Road 80, and is about 8 kilometers from Rach Soi, Kien Giang province.
This village is a new settlement area for 60 families. The bridge people are crossing daily is in an unsafe condition. It is even more dangerous in the rainy season. The priority is put on this bridge while Help The Poor is working on the budget for the second one.
The bridge project is handled by three farmer-engineers widely known in the Mekong delta as "the three honored builders of suspension bridges". They work voluntarily for all humanitarian projects. Despite their unformal schooling, their bridges are sturdy and last. From An Giang province Thach Van Nhon (Ba Nhon), Nguyen Van Hung (Bay Hung) and Pham Van Lieu (Tu Lieu) travel a 60 km stretch to directly operate the construction with the help of 3 skill welders and the help of local voluntary labors. The main work force will work and overnight on the side of the road and eat simple meals until the bridge in completed then they will return home.
A formal ground breaking ceremony was organized 9 am March 27, 2007 with the presence of Father Bui Van Tang of U Minh Thuong (Dong Hoa parish) who is the manager of the project. Representatives of Help The Poor and scores of resident and government officers of the locale were attending the event with fulll eagerness. Incenses were burned and scoops of earth were tossed.
The bridge is 24 meters long and 2 meters wide with the capacity of 3 tons. The completion date is targeted 30 days from this day. (HCH)