The water tank of love at the headland of the Fatherland

A 200m3 rainwater tank was supported by philanthropists and built right next to the gate of Sa Phin Kindergarten - Photo: LUONG DINH KHOA

This is a water tank project called for by parents who are active in a parenting community on Facebook.

During a visit to Sa Phin Kindergarten, we heard the teachers share that every year, for 4 to 6 months, the whole school struggles with water conservation because the amount of rainwater in small tanks is not enough for the whole year.

The lack of water directly affects the daily life of households, especially schools that do not have enough water to serve students, making the desire to have large rainwater tanks here even more urgent. Some volunteer groups have contributed money to support people to buy water and buy water tanks.

In May 2023, responding to the call of the Chairman of the People's Committee of Sa Phin commune, parents in the Facebook group Teaching children in happiness coordinated with the non-profiteducational organization Seroto Foundation to directly learn about support for building a 120m3 water tank in this place.

Sa Phin Kindergarten is surrounded by rocky mountains. The school has about 4-5 small, dilapidated classrooms and a playground.

Pointing to the steep rocky mountains, Ms. Giang Thi Dinh - a teacher at the school - shared: "This is the road we have to climb every day to get water for our children, with very difficult crevices. But we still have to try to get water."

Many children have to drop out of school to help their families travel long distances to carry water.

The site chosen to build the water tank was a plot of land that the commune bought from the local people 5 years ago. The land right at the school gate, located about 3-4 meters below ground, is ideal so that after building a 3-meter high water tank, it will be at the same height as the ground.

The commune leaders discussed that after the water tank is built, they will expand the fence to widen the school gate, and at the same time use the top of the tank as a parking lot for teachers, freeing up the school yard for children to have more space to play.

In fact, the amount of money raised was just enough to build a ^120m3 water tank, but due to the local desire to build a 3m high tank (equivalent to ^200m3 ), the members of the Seroto Foundation decided to contribute more to cover the cost.

The entire budget of 320 million VND was given to the commune leadership as the investor for construction according to the plan of the State and the people working together.

In July 2024, we returned to Sa Phin with special happiness when the water tank project after nearly half a year of construction could be put into use. The commune leadership and teachers and students of Sa Phin Kindergarten waited to welcome the group with eyes shining with joy.

Mr. Sung Minh Tu - a parent who sent his child here - excitedly expressed: "My family has two children, the older one is in 5th grade, the younger one is 5 years old. Before the dry season, the older one would have to drop out of school so that the father and son could go together to find water in the distant mountain streams to bring back for the whole family's daily activities.

Now with this large water tank, not only the school but also the surrounding households have an additional source of shared water to get through the drought season."

The weather is harsh, water only remains in deep crevices on high mountains.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/be-nuoc-nghia-tinh-noi-dia-dau-to-quoc-20240729085441768.htm