Ms. Phuong (right) gives and instructs women on using paper bags when shopping to protect the environment.

Returning to Phu My, I felt a mix of familiarity and novelty due to the increasingly green, clean, and beautiful environment. Rows of trees provided shade along the village roads, and electric lights shone brightly at night. This is the result of the continuous care, maintenance, and development efforts of local organizations, officials, and the people; among them, the Youth Union is one of the core forces.

The youth-led initiative for a bright, green, clean, beautiful, and orderly road in Mong An village and the flower-lined road in My Lam village involved planting new trees and flowers suitable for each season. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuong, Secretary of the Phu My Commune Youth Union, shared that 500 new trees were planted in the Vinh Ve village planning area, the green road in Duong Mong village, and at the Phuoc Linh village cultural center…

To keep the environment clean and the landscape beautiful, the Youth Union members are ready to take the lead in the "Green Sunday" movement or whenever Phu My village needs them. Hundreds of Youth Union members "rolled up their sleeves" to cut down invasive plants along the Phu My - Phu Vang road and remove water hyacinths along the Nhu Y River. These young people also enthusiastically helped repaint desks, chairs, and learning materials at kindergartens in the area before each new school year; and helped repair and upgrade facilities at playgrounds for children in Vinh Ve village and Phu My 2 Primary School.

I once knew the young "leader in blue" (at that time, Ms. Phuong was the Deputy Secretary of the Phu My Commune Youth Union), who tirelessly went to the grassroots level to understand the situation, lives, thoughts, and aspirations of poor, elderly, lonely, sick, and disadvantaged households, in order to provide timely support both materially and spiritually. A typical example is the case of Huynh Thi Phuong (then a student), whose mother was ill and grandmother was frail. The Phu My Commune Youth Union coordinated fundraising to help repair Phuong's house, and also acted as a "bridge" to connect Phuong's family with benefactors so that Phuong's family would receive attention.

Phuong's mother and maternal grandmother passed away one after another. After Phuong graduated from medical college, Ms. Phuong introduced her to the Social Policy Bank so she could borrow capital to work abroad and accumulate funds for future sustainable economic development.

In 2024, the Phu My Commune Youth Union also supported Ms. Duong Thi Thuy's family in escaping poverty; introducing her daughter to culinary training and helping her find employment. Children from many families who have escaped poverty were guided by the Commune Youth Union Secretary to participate in free vocational training classes and were introduced to job opportunities. These households were also referred to the local government for support in developing sustainable livelihood models such as cattle and chickens, fostering sustainable economic development after escaping poverty.

“The Youth Union also coordinated with the Commune People's Committee to open a makeup training class for 30 students in the area; and collaborated with Daystar Company to organize a career counseling program, providing guidance on professions and jobs for young people in general and those discharged from the military in 2024. With a stable profession and income, young people can feel secure and actively contribute to the community,” Ms. Phuong shared.

The Youth Union of Phu My Commune has effectively maintained many meaningful models and programs such as: "Car washing for fundraising"; martial arts club, free English classes; free haircuts for poor students and children. Ms. Mai Thi Thanh Thao, Secretary of the Phu Vang District Youth Union, highly appreciated the role and leadership of Youth Union "leader" Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuong in gathering and "leading" Youth Union members to contribute to building their homeland.

Over the past period, the Youth Union of Phu My Commune has contributed and mobilized funds to donate hundreds of gifts to students and people in need, with a total value of nearly 300 million VND.
Text and photos: Quynh Anh

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/chinh-polit-xa-hoi/thanh-nien/ban-linh-cua-nu-thu-linh-doan-154367.html