Police officers visit Ro Chom Brong’s family. (Photo: Ngoc Anh/VOV5)

Ia Bang commune has 70 residents who have completed a prison sentence. Some of them joined the club as soon as they got out of jail. The club started with 28 members and now has 31.

At their monthly meeting, commune police officers and representatives of the local administration disseminate State policies and laws and encourage club members to comply with the law and help each other overcome problems.

Senior Colonel Hoang Van Huan, Deputy Chief of the Dak Doa district police, said, “We encourage misguided people to join the club, where they can share their experience in doing business and build a better life. 25 members have been helped to secure bank loans worth nearly 20,000 USD."

"The Dak Doa district police have worked with local businesses to create jobs for them. Those who want to find a job outside Gia Lai province have also received assistance by, for example, clearing their criminal record.”

Ro Chom Brong of the Jrai ethnic group, who was imprisoned 9 years for illegally crossing the border, joined the club when it started.

“I was imprisoned because I broke the law. After being freed, I joined this club and have been a member for nearly a year. The state helped us build a new house and gave us a cow to earn a living," said Brong. 

"My family has almost 3,000 square meters of coffee and 30 pepper trees. We’re very happy because we earn enough to live on. Last year we earned about 1,200 USD,” he added.

Captain Le The Nong, Deputy Chief of the Ia Bang communal police, said the local government’s help has reformed misguided people like Ro Chom Brong.

“Since Brong was released from jail in 2017, he has devoted himself to earning a living and taking care of his family. He has helped the commune police ensure local order and security," said Nong.

"Brong was offered a loan by the district Bank for Social Policies before joining the club. The club wants people who have broken the law to create jobs for each other. For example, a club member who grows coffee trees can hire others for the harvest season,” he said. 

The club plans to coordinate with the provincial Job Generation Center to provide vocational training to club members and their relatives.

Tran Chau Ho applies for a loan from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies of Dak Doa district. (Photo: Ngoc Anh/VOV5)

The Vietnam Bank for Social Policies of Dak Doa district helps them with production or business loans.

Tran Chau Ho in Ia Bang commune said, “I went to Gia Trung prison for 4 years for robbery. When I was released, thanks to the commune police, I joined the ‘Helping each other’ club and got a loan from the Bank for Social Policies of nearly 2,200 USD with an interest rate of 0.6% per year. I used the money to buy a truck and a plough. We’re grateful to the club model, which creates favorable conditions for learning from each other's experience.”

The club model in Ia Bang commune for helping misguided people return to an honest life will be duplicated in two more communes in Dak Doa district.