Heartwarming gesture: Navy soldiers sponsor underprivileged children.

Twenty orphaned children and children from disadvantaged backgrounds, sponsored by units of the 2nd Naval Region, shared heartwarming stories. This meaningful act further strengthened and spread the bond between the military and the people.

A sad childhood is now just a memory.

Twenty orphaned children and children in extremely difficult circumstances are being sponsored by units of the 2nd Naval Region, each with their own story that needs to be shared. Among them is Tran My Quyen (born in 2017), from Dai Bai Hamlet, Vinh Chau Ward, Can Tho City. Quyen's family is in particularly difficult circumstances, especially since her father, the family's breadwinner and a coastal fisherman, died in an accident in July 2023, leaving behind his deaf and mute wife with no stable job and four young children.

Ms. Pham Thi Be, mother of Nguyen Hoang Thinh (the child of a fisherman sponsored by the 2nd Naval Region), was delighted when the unit came to visit and give gifts.

Similarly, the situation of Thach Van Kien (born in 2016), residing in San Chim Hamlet, Vinh Chau Ward, Can Tho City, is heartbreaking. His father left home in 2017 when Kien was not yet one year old. His disabled mother struggled to make a living fishing at sea to support her child. Tragically, she contracted a serious illness and passed away in 2021, leaving Kien orphaned and without the loving embrace of both parents. Or consider the case of Ho Ngoc Yen (born in 2012), residing in Hamlet 1, Ganh Hao Commune, Ca Mau Province, who was orphaned at a young age when her father died while working at sea. Yen currently lives with her elderly grandfather; her family is classified as poor and lacks a stable source of income…

With the warm affection, encouragement, care, and support of the Navy soldiers, from tuition fees, books, and clothes to the purchase of many household items, the sad, worried, and deprived childhood days of these children have gradually faded into memory.

"The Navy's sponsorship of fishermen's children" is a humane activity with profound and practical significance for the lives of fishermen in particularly difficult circumstances. Children who are orphaned or facing extreme hardship due to their parents' serious illnesses have received timely support from the Navy, helping to alleviate their pain and disadvantages. In particular, this support helps these children avoid dropping out of school, allowing them to focus on their studies and strive for a more stable future." - Colonel Do Hong Duyen, Deputy Political Commissar of Naval Region 2

"Every time naval officers and soldiers visit and encourage the children, it leaves many special emotions. These include the lingering glances at farewell, the radiant smiles of the children, and the happy eyes of their relatives as their family lives gradually become less difficult and impoverished," shared the Deputy Political Commissar of Naval Region 2.

The Command of Naval Region 2 held a meeting and awarded scholarships to children of officers and soldiers in difficult circumstances, as well as children of fishermen sponsored by Region 2 in 2024.

A prime example is Ho Minh Phu (a 9th-grade student from Dong Hai commune, Vinh Long province). He emotionally said: "I am very fortunate to be sponsored by the Navy soldiers. Although my family faces difficulties, I promise to study hard, maintain my health, and help my grandmother with household chores. I will also strive to grow up to be a Navy soldier like you."

Ms. Le Thi Beo, Ho Minh Phu's grandmother, happily expressed: "Since Phu was sponsored by the soldiers, he even hugs the uniforms they sent him while he sleeps. This year, he's in 9th grade, and many friends are urging him to drop out of school to work, but he said he promised the Navy soldiers that he would continue his studies to become a useful member of society and a Navy soldier. My grandson and I are very happy and grateful to the Navy soldiers for helping us stabilize our lives and for letting him know his dreams for the future."

The journey to becoming a "sponsor of fishermen's children"

The DK1 offshore platform provides healthcare – a solid support for fishermen venturing out to sea.

Naval Region 2 is the core force in protecting the sovereignty of the southern seas and islands of the Fatherland, managing a vast sea area of ​​over 300,000 km², with the DK1 area as its focus. This sea area is rich in mineral resources, but also harbors many potential instability and unpredictable factors.

According to the Deputy Political Commissar of the 2nd Naval Region, the meaningful activity of "The Navy sponsoring fishermen's children" formed very naturally. This activity stemmed from the reality that Vietnamese fishermen face many difficulties in exploiting and catching seafood at sea. From January 2021 to the present, the Party Committee and the Command of the 2nd Naval Region have researched and agreed to implement the program "The Vietnamese Navy as a support for fishermen to venture out to sea" in the provinces and cities of Tay Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Vinh Long, Lam Dong, Dong Thap, Ca Mau, and Dong Nai. The program aims to improve the quality and effectiveness of propaganda, mobilization, support, and assistance activities for fishermen in coastal provinces to exploit seafood safely and legally, together with other forces to firmly protect the sovereignty of the sea, islands, and continental shelf of the Fatherland.

With high determination and the unity of officers and soldiers, the program "Vietnam Navy as a support for fishermen to venture out to sea" has achieved many outstanding results. Specifically, the unit has coordinated with the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of coastal provinces to disseminate legal information to 5,300 fishermen; distributed 33,700 leaflets, donated 11,700 national flags, 2,250 life jackets, and 400 sea medicine kits; and provided medical examinations and medicine to 2,050 fishermen with a total value of over 3 billion VND.

Colonel Do Hong Duyen, Deputy Political Commissar of Region 2, disseminates and explains the law to local fishermen.

Simultaneously, the 2nd Naval Region also carried out civilian outreach activities, helping people alleviate poverty and implementing the "Navy's Joint Efforts to Build New Rural Areas and Civilized Urban Areas" program, with over 7,450 man-days contributing to rural development, environmental sanitation in the localities where they are stationed, assisting people in overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, and developing the economy; mobilizing forces and equipment to extinguish 20 fires on 76.2 hectares of forest in Dong Nai, Lam Dong provinces and Ho Chi Minh City.

The unit has built 48 houses for comrades, 7 houses of solidarity, and 3 houses of compassion; mobilized ships and officers and soldiers to transport more than 9,600 m³ of fresh water to alleviate drought in the Western provinces. Particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, Region 2 mobilized hundreds of officers and soldiers, ships, and vehicles to transport and support 40 tons of goods, food, and supplies worth 700 million VND, transporting 2,047 patients, 63 corpses, and 8 sets of ashes. The unit also supported 70 families and donated 130 gift packages worth 98 million VND.

In particular, since 2023, to strengthen support for fishermen, especially children in extremely difficult circumstances, the 2nd Naval Region has implemented the "Navy sponsors children of fishermen" program.

To date, the entire region has sponsored twenty students from fishing families facing particularly difficult circumstances. Through visits and encouragement to the families, the unit provides each child with 500,000 VND per month. In addition, during holidays, Tet (Lunar New Year), and the start of the school year, the units organize visits and tặng gifts such as clothes, bicycles, school bags, and school supplies. These humane values ​​and meaningful, practical actions for disadvantaged children are the "glue" that strengthens the bond between the military and the people.

The Commander of the 2nd Naval Region Command presents gifts to beneficiaries of social policies in the area where the unit is stationed.

"In the coming period, despite many difficulties, the 2nd Naval Region will continue to strengthen its civilian outreach and search and rescue work at sea. In addition, it will focus on showing gratitude and support to the families of soldiers and be ready to sponsor the children of fishermen in particularly difficult circumstances, contributing to helping fishermen maintain sovereignty and ensuring they can confidently go out to sea and continue their livelihoods," affirmed the Deputy Political Commissar of the 2nd Naval Region.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/am-tinh-bo-doi-hai-quan-do-dau-nhung-tre-em-thiet-thoi-238260506163341072.htm