Letters from the Heart: A Reflection on the Power of Small Acts of Kindness

In a society driven by personal benefit, many wonder why we should participate in outreach projects. Some says that they only consume our time, leaving us with less rest. With the pressure to work harder—balancing part-time jobs, assignments, and exams—why bother with outreach, especially if it’s not promoted on social media and goes unnoticed?

This leads me to reflect on some older friends I’ve met. Why do they help young people? Where does their motivation come from? If I were their age, would I have the same enthusiasm? I don’t know– I’m still young, not yet earning money or experiencing failure, so I don’t know yet what I can do. But I respect those who’ve shown me the true meaning of kindness. It suddenly reminds me of a friend who once told me, “Small people do small things.”

Honestly, I often ask God also, “Why do I always have to help those who are in need or those who are left behind?”; “What will I gain?” And sometimes helping others makes us look good in the eyes of others–which I do not really want at all. Then I realized, for me, it is because Jesus did that also for the poor. And I also came from a poor family. Jesus showed me that He loves me. Therefore, I must also love others. Sometimes you won’t know why, but the more you serve, the clearer you will see the image of God, and you will understand Him better through the little ones.

After attending the AYA-ATF last year, I realized that many people are unaware of the current situation of internal migration in Vietnam, and I felt compelled to raise awareness of their struggles. So, when I learned that a friend from Sri Lanka was organizing a Christmas event for children, including a card-making contest open to international friends, I felt inspired to do something similar—something more manageable for me. As someone who loves communicating with God through letters and diaries, I decided to create a project for children in Vietnam. I named it Letters from the Heart.

Last December, with the support of my mother and friends, I organized a simple event in one of the communities in Ho Chi Minh City for the children of the internal migrant families. You may be wondering: Who are these migrants, and why is this important? Internal migrants in Vietnam are families who leave their home town in search of better job opportunities and an improved quality of life. Unfortunately, many end up living in cramped 3-square-meter homes with their entire families, and their children often lack access to education, leaving them behind.

This situation inspired me to create the Letters from the Heart program, where children can exchange Christmas cards and letters with friends from Vietnam and other countries. The aim is to encourage these children to open their minds, keep dreaming, and continue hoping. I want them to spread their wings and aim higher, empowering them to express their wishes, no matter how big or small their dreams may be.Additionally, the program seeks to offer an opportunity for both young people from Asia and international friends to better understand the conditions these children face and the mission of the Scalabrini community in Thu Duc City, Vietnam.

Lastly, I organized this program to emphasize the importance of education, just as my mother always told me: “Only education can change your life.” I hope that through this program, those children will realize that education is essential for moving forward and that dreaming is crucial for progress. While I may only be making a small difference, I strive to do as much as I can.

To my dear young people, and to myself as well: may we always remember that even though we may never fully eliminate corruption, war, poverty, or abuse, we should not stop moving forward, always on the path. Not necessarily to achieve something immediate or end all suffering, but for us to seek God

Ask yourself: “Am I seeking God, or am I seeking something else?”*