'The movement thrives because of its leaders.'

At the end of 1971, after completing his military service, he returned to his hometown, working with both his hands and his gun, simultaneously producing and fighting to build and protect his homeland. In 1972, he again signed his name in blood on a volunteer application to join the army. After completing his driving training, he was assigned to a transport unit in the Fourth Military Region. In 1975, after the country was unified, he left the army and transferred to work as a driver for the Quang Binh Transport Company. In 2013, he retired and returned to his hometown.

'Cán bộ nào, phong trào ấy'

- Ảnh 2. — Mr. Dang Quoc Tri (fourth from the left, bottom row) at the 4th Provincial Congress of the Association of Former Youth Volunteers

Mr. Dang Quoc Tri, born in 1953, is a member of the Veterans Association and Chairman of the Former Youth Volunteers Association of Quang Ninh District, Quang Binh Province. With the qualities of a soldier, he enthusiastically participates in social work in his local area. In 2015, he was elected to the Executive Committee of the Former Youth Volunteers Association of Trung Trinh residential area; in 2016, he became Chairman of the Former Youth Volunteers Association of Quan Hau town; in 2017, he was elected Vice Chairman of the Former Youth Volunteers Association of the district; and in 2021, he was elected Chairman of the Former Youth Volunteers Association of Quang Ninh District.

As the Chairman of the District's Association of Former Youth Volunteers, he was deeply concerned about the difficulties faced by its members. He called on members to contribute funds to partially support those in need, helping them to stabilize their lives. He regularly visited local branches to understand the lives and feelings of the members, encouraging them to help each other in their businesses to alleviate poverty. He also participated in activities with local branches to answer questions about policies and regulations, helping members understand the Party's guidelines and the State's laws and policies, so that they would trust the association and voluntarily participate in its activities.

He and the association's executive committee also paid attention to and proposed solutions regarding policies and benefits for members. To date, the number of members whose benefits have been processed is 1,510 (one-time allowance); regular allowance: 10; funeral allowance: 216; war invalids: 527; martyrs: 74; victims of Agent Orange/dioxin: 127...

Given the housing difficulties faced by some members, he proposed to the Association of Former Youth Volunteers and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of the province to connect with philanthropists, resulting in the construction of four charitable houses with a total cost of 280 million VND.

During the historic floods of 2020, he and the Standing Committee of the district association appealed to philanthropists such as My Dung Photography Company (Hai Phong), the District Red Cross Society, VAN Group, the Central Association of Former Youth Volunteers, the Provincial Association of Former Youth Volunteers, etc., to donate 38.5 million VND along with many gifts such as books, clothes, and food worth approximately 69.2 million VND. The money and gifts reached the affected members directly, helping to alleviate some of their difficulties and stabilize their lives.

'Cán bộ nào, phong trào ấy'

- Ảnh 3. — Mr. Dang Quoc Tri (center, bottom row) - Chairman of the District Association of Former Youth Volunteers, organized a visit to President Ho Chi Minh's birthplace for outstanding members.

The District Association of Former Youth Volunteers has established a "Comradeship Fund" with 4.3 billion VND for members to borrow for production and business; and mobilized members to donate 50 savings accounts to female former youth volunteers in difficult circumstances, totaling 15 million VND. He and the Executive Committee organized field trips for district-level Association of Former Youth Volunteers officials to learn from successful business members; and organized a district-wide emulation congress where members reported on successful business models and highlighted exemplary cases.

Every year, the District Association of Former Youth Volunteers organizes trips for its outstanding members to visit President Ho Chi Minh's birthplace, revisit former battlefields, pay respects at the National Cemetery of Youth Volunteer Martyrs in Van Ninh commune, Quang Ninh district, visit the tomb of General Vo Nguyen Giap, and visit the Monument to the 20th Victory Road...

He facilitated the connection between the District Association of Former Youth Volunteers, the District Youth Union, and the District Red Cross Society to organize a cultural performance celebrating the successful conclusion of the District Party Congress for the 2020-2025 term and commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Traditional Day of the Youth Volunteer Force (July 15, 1950 - July 15, 2020), raising over 10 million VND to provide gifts to former youth volunteers in difficult circumstances.

For long-term planning, he and the executive committee of the association encouraged female members to participate in a "piggy bank" savings program, where small amounts of money accumulate over time. With over 3,000 female members, 98% registered and participated in this initiative. In 2022, he continued to call for contributions from members, businesses, and philanthropists to build three charitable houses for members in particularly difficult circumstances, worth 180 million VND. For the 2023 Lunar New Year, he and the district association's executive committee called for contributions from members and philanthropists to provide 68 gift packages worth 23 million VND to members. This was a meaningful and timely act of encouragement for members who are war invalids, sick soldiers, or those in difficult circumstances, demonstrating the principle of "remembering the source when drinking water," fostering trust and active participation in the association's work.

On the occasion of the 73rd anniversary of the Traditional Day of the Youth Volunteer Force (July 15, 1950 – July 15, 2023) and the 76th anniversary of the Day of War Invalids and Martyrs (July 27, 1947 – July 27, 2023), the District Association of Former Youth Volunteers coordinated with the District Youth Union to organize a cultural and artistic performance night with 23 performances and over 1,500 attendees. The event raised over 30 million VND from participating organizations, members, and citizens; this money will support members in difficult circumstances. Also on this occasion, the district association and local associations presented 54 gifts to members who are war invalids, sick soldiers, and relatives of martyrs; in addition, the District Association of Former Youth Volunteers organized a friendly volleyball match between local units and exchanges with the Association of the Elderly and the Association of Retired Teachers in the area.

In addition, he, along with the Standing Committee and the Executive Board of the association, organized the development of production models for members, achieving many positive results such as: beekeeping, cage fish farming, making chewy sweet potatoes, seedling propagation, and growing vegetables in greenhouses…

He was always close to his comrades and neighbors, offering encouragement and support, earning their affection. During a field trip, he visited a homeless and sick member who had no bed and had to sleep on the floor. He used his own money and called on several other members to contribute to buying a bed worth approximately 3 million VND. On the occasion of the Youth Volunteer Force's Traditional Day (July 15, 2023), his family spent over 1 million VND to organize a porridge meal for patients at Quang Ninh District General Hospital.

In addition, he actively participated in the activities of the Senior Citizens Association, the Veterans Association, the Senior Citizens' Poetry Club, and served as a contributor to the Provincial Association of Former Youth Volunteers' Newsletter with a high sense of responsibility.

Ms. Le Thi Thu Hong, Vice President of the Provincial Association of Former Youth Volunteers, said: "Mr. Dang Quoc Tri is an exemplary officer, dedicated to his work, and has successfully completed the tasks assigned to him. He has many good and practical methods that contribute to the development of the Association of Former Youth Volunteers in Quang Ninh district."

For these achievements, he was awarded one Liberation Fighter Medal, one Anti-American Resistance Medal; a certificate of merit from the Provincial Youth Volunteer Association in 2018; a certificate of merit from the Central Youth Volunteer Association in 2019; and a certificate of merit from the District People's Committee in 2020.

In 2021, he was elected to the Executive Committee of the Provincial Association of Former Youth Volunteers, for the term 2021-2026.