Village Elder Ma Ren – Pride of the K'ho People
Through simple but meaningful actions, such as donating land and participating in new rural construction, many people in Lam Dong have spread a spirit of unity and community responsibility. Mr. Ma Ren, from the former Ka Do village, Ka Do commune, is a shining example.
Awakening Community Strength
Former Ka Do village, located along National Highway 20, is a long-established settlement home to many K’ho households. In the past, the village’s roads were narrow and deteriorating, making travel and transporting agricultural products extremely difficult, especially during the rainy season.
Recognizing these challenges, Mr. Ma Ren took the lead by donating more than 900 square meters of land to expand the inter-village road. He did not stop there; he personally went door to door, encouraging neighbors to join forces.
At first, many people were hesitant because the land is valuable. I told them: when the road is built, our homes benefit first. Wider roads mean vehicles can enter, children can go to school, and farmers can sell their crops more easily. Once they understood, everyone gladly joined in
Mr. Ma Ren, the former Ka Do village, Ka Do commune, Lam Dong province
Thanks to his persuasive and exemplary leadership, many households quickly responded by donating land and contributing labor to concrete the road. Today, the wide and clean road has become a source of pride for the village and contributes to meeting traffic criteria in new rural construction.
Inspired by Mr. Ma Ren, the movement of donating land for roads and improving village infrastructure in former Ka Do village has spread rapidly. These concrete roads not only facilitate transportation and agricultural trade but also transform the rural landscape.
Every small action by an individual, when linked to community benefit, can create great strength and effectively contribute to the national target program for new rural construction
Mr. Toneh Dong, Head of the former Ka Do village
A Local Leader Close to the People
Beyond leading the land donation movement, Mr. Ma Ren is a dedicated Front Committee officer, currently serving as Head of the Village Front Committee, engaging in numerous community-focused activities.
In his work, he persistently encourages residents to implement government policies and initiatives, actively promotes cultural life, maintains public order, and protects the environment.
As a dynamic farmer, he adopted high-tech vegetable cultivation in greenhouses, boosting his household income while sharing production knowledge with neighbors.
Mr. Luong Hoang Man, Chairman of Ka Do Commune People’s Council remarked: “Mr. Ma Ren is a respected figure in the community, always prioritizing the common good. His voluntary land donation for roads is not only materially significant but also inspires a spirit of unity and responsibility among residents in building new rural construction.”
Over the years, Mr. Ma Ren has led in many initiatives: encouraging households to switch from low-yield crops to high-yield vegetables and flowers, guiding livestock and poultry farming, organizing weekly village clean-ups, advising youth to avoid social vices, and supporting disadvantaged households with production expertise.
As a respected figure among ethnic minority communities, he has been recognized by Lam Dong province for his achievements in production, security, forest protection, and cultural life, receiving certificates of merit from the Provincial Committee for Ethnic Affairs for multiple consecutive years.
Mr. Ma Ren’s practical contributions not only help fulfill transportation criteria in new rural construction but also reflect his sense of responsibility, compassion, and the pride of the K’ho people in the era of change.