Warmth of the border region

Through the "Accompanying Women in Border Areas" program, the Provincial Women's Union and its partner organizations have organized many practical activities to support and assist poor women and children in border communes. As a result, many households have overcome difficulties, stabilized their lives, and confidently joined forces with border guards to firmly protect national sovereignty and border security.

Staff from Thanh Hoa Pediatric Hospital joined forces with women in border areas to organize free medical examinations and distribute free medicine to children in the border region.

Together with the delegation from the Provincial Women's Union and accompanying units, we set off at 5 a.m. for Chung Son village, Son Thuy commune. After many hours of travel, the delegation arrived at Chung Son village just as the rain stopped. Everyone hurriedly arranged the necessities and supplies quickly so that the gift-giving program at the "Sharing Tet, Warming the Hearts of the Villagers" market could proceed as planned, fulfilling the hopes and eager anticipation of the people in the commune and neighboring communes.

In addition to gifts, the program also provided livelihood models for disadvantaged women and children in the communes of Son Thuy, Na Meo, Muong Min, Tam Thanh, Tam Lu, Trung Ha, Son Dien, etc. A special highlight focusing on border areas during Tet was the "Zero-Cost Booth" activity, which attracted the most attention from the people with 500 vouchers for free goods such as necessities, supplies, and clothing. Furthermore, the medical team from Thanh Hoa Children's Hospital provided free examinations, consultations, and medication for children under 6 years old and local residents; the Women's Association of the Provincial Police provided free haircuts for residents and children...

Holding bags of essential goods including dried fish, fish sauce, cooking oil, MSG, seasoning powder, peanuts, instant noodles, and brand-new clothes, the people were very happy and excited. The selection of essential items like dried shrimp and daily spices demonstrates the organization's thoughtfulness and attention to detail in understanding the real needs of people in border areas, ensuring that support is provided accurately and effectively for what they are lacking during the Tet holiday.

Ms. Chu Thi Chu from Che Lau village shared: “My family is in difficult circumstances, and we have many worries during Tet. Receiving the care, encouragement, and meaningful gifts from the program and benefactors, the villagers are very happy and feel warm-hearted. This is a great source of encouragement for us to feel secure celebrating Tet and to strive to improve our lives.”

With the goal of "Leaving no one behind," the Provincial Women's Union, through its "Accompanying Women in Border Areas" program from 2018 to the present, has proactively coordinated with partner organizations and localities to organize many meaningful and practical activities aimed at disadvantaged border regions, especially during the Lunar New Year. The gifts given to the people in border communes are only temporary support. For many years, the "Accompanying Women in Border Areas" program has focused on long-term, sustainable support implemented by the women's sector, border guards, and partner organizations. This includes support for building "houses of compassion"; livelihood models directly benefiting households, such as raising cattle, goats, black sows, ducks, and providing guidance on rice production and vegetable cultivation in communes like Bat Mot, Trung Ly, Yen Khuong, Muong Chanh, and Quang Chieu... These models are proving effective and suitable to the local characteristics. Through this, we will gradually change the mindset of the people who rely on the State, encouraging them to be proactive, develop their own resources, change small-scale farming practices and methods; abandon outdated customs; limit and gradually reduce early marriage and consanguineous marriage; and especially to feel secure, committed, and work closely with the Party committee, government, and Border Guard to firmly protect national sovereignty and border security.

Ms. Luong Thi Ne, Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Muong Chanh commune, shared: "The commune received financial support for cattle farming from the Provincial Women's Union and other partner organizations. We have directed the branches to closely monitor and support women in caring for and raising their livestock so that the model is effective and spreads the methods and practices to many other households to participate in economic activities and take care of their families."

Comrade Luong Thi Hanh, Provincial Party Committee member, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, and President of the Provincial Women's Union, stated: "The programs 'Spring at the Border - Warming the Hearts of the People' and 'Sharing Tet, Warming the Hearts of the People' are key annual activities aimed at concretizing the 'Accompanying Women in Border Areas' program, which has been implemented in stages from 2018 to the present. Each trip to the border areas is not only to deliver gifts, but also an opportunity for Women's Union officials to directly listen to and understand the hardships and difficulties of poor women, children, and border guards who work day and night to protect national sovereignty and border security. We are always concerned about how to ensure that no member in remote areas is left behind, so that when Tet comes, every family can celebrate the spring festival happily and warmly."

Besides gifts for members, every year the Provincial Women's Union and its partner organizations always pay special attention to the grassroots political system and the armed forces. This demonstrates close coordination, partnership, and mutual support in the process of fulfilling political tasks.

Thousands of gifts are distributed annually to members and women in border areas, along with dozens of livelihood support models implemented directly at the household level... these meaningful gifts contribute to gradually changing the lives of people in difficult border regions. They are the ones who are working day and night to keep the flame alive, contributing to building peace, prosperity, and happiness in the most remote border areas of the province.

Text and photos: Le Ha

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/am-tinh-bien-cuong-278501.htm