A student quietly 'sows the seeds' of kindness in the heart of Can Tho

"If every young person keeps a small flame of kindness and goodness, this society will become better and better."

That is the sharing of Lu Gia Kiet, 21 years old, from Dong Phuoc commune, Chau Thanh A district, Can Tho city (Cai Tac town, Chau Thanh A district, old Hau Giang province), currently a 3rd year student majoring in Business Administration, Nam Can Tho University - who has left a beautiful impression in the hearts of teachers, friends and even strangers that he has quietly helped.

Engage in volunteer activities from the smallest things

Coming from a large family with difficult circumstances, Lu Gia Kiet soon understood the value of sharing. "There were days when I went to school with an empty stomach, I just wished that in the future I could help people in the same situation," he shared. It was these hardships that formed in Kiet the habit of helping others - from small tasks around the house to practical actions for the community.

Perhaps that is why teachers and friends all commented on Kiet: "A young person who lives responsibly, lives decently without showing off." He started with simple things: cleaning up the trash at Ninh Kieu wharf, collecting plastic bottles at the foot of Can Tho bridge, sweeping the walkways in poor residential areas, and collecting trash bags with friends to restore cleanliness to every sidewalk and street corner. Those actions were not noisy but enough to make everyone who mentioned Kiet smile with admiration.

Lu Gia Kiet and students pick up trash under Can Tho bridge

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY AUTHOR

Connect with children in difficult circumstances

One of the places that Lu Gia Kiet often visits is the Huong Duong and Hoa Mai orphanages in Can Tho City (formerly Hau Giang Province). Here, Kiet and other young people cook, give gifts, and play games with the children. He can no longer remember how many trips he has participated in, nor count the number of gifts he has given. For Kiet, the important thing is not the number but the times he has seen the smiles of the children - the less fortunate children who lack the arms of their families. Simple gifts such as milk cartons and cakes become a bridge for Kiet and his friends to share love with the children. "The joy of the children, the laughter every time we play together is the motivation for me to continue these activities," Kiet shared.

In addition to the shelters, Kiet also participated in many volunteer trips to primary schools in rural areas of Can Tho City (formerly Hau Giang Province) - where facilities are still lacking. "Seeing the children eagerly opening their gifts, I thought that even if I only contributed a very small part, I could help them have more beautiful memories of their childhood," Kiet said.

Kiet is active in many social volunteer activities.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY AUTHOR

Spreading the spirit of volunteerism to the community

Not only is he attached to poor children, Lu Gia Kiet also cooks porridge and distributes milk to patients at Can Tho Oncology Hospital. The work is not too hard but requires carefulness and perseverance because he has to serve people who are being treated for serious illnesses.

In addition, Kiet also participated in cooking pho and distributing drinks to the elderly at the Center for the Care of the Elderly and Unsheltered Children in Binh Thuy District (Can Tho City).

Besides, Kiet also had the opportunity to participate in supporting the delivery of relief goods to the Northern people affected by Typhoon Yagi - a city-wide volunteer activity that he cannot forget.

Kiet and youth union members participate in distributing porridge to patients at Can Tho Oncology Hospital.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY AUTHOR

Not stopping there, Kiet and his student volunteer group also carried out fundraising and exchange programs to support the disabled in the locality. The group organized small sales, raising funds to buy milk, cakes, and rice to give to some families with disabled people. In addition to giving gifts, the group also organized talks and sharing sessions to help the community better understand the lives and determination of those who are physically disadvantaged. "Every time we meet them, we learn a lesson about resilience and optimism," Kiet shared.

As an active member, Kiet also participated in many activities to promote environmental protection and energy saving in the locality. Notably, the program to launch the model "Residential area limiting plastic waste" - where Kiet and other young people distributed 100 cloth bags to local residents, encouraging them to use cloth bags instead of plastic bags in their daily activities. In addition, the group also distributed leaflets to promote the habit of using electricity economically, contributing to building an environmentally friendly lifestyle in the community.

Kiet was awarded the "5 Good Students" achievement at the city level.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY AUTHOR

The journey of persistent effort and the desire to live a decent life

Not only actively participating in community activities, Lu Gia Kiet also maintained impressive academic achievements at Nam Can Tho University. During the 3 years of study, he always achieved the title of excellent student, with excellent training scores in each semester - the result of persistent efforts and a sense of responsibility for himself. Those efforts helped Kiet be recognized as the "5 Good Student" at the school level in the 2022 - 2023 school year and continue to be honored as the "5 Good Student" ( a title for students who are comprehensive in ethics, study, volunteering, integration and physical strength) at the Can Tho city level in the 2023 - 2024 school year.

Sharing about his future orientation, Kiet said: "No matter what job I do after graduating, I want to maintain the mindset of living for the community, ready to contribute my expertise to social activities, spreading positive values to everyone around me." For Kiet, volunteering is not a temporary activity but has become a part of his lifestyle - a lifestyle of kindness, perseverance and silence.

"I believe that if every young person keeps a small flame of kindness and goodness, this society will become better and better," Kiet said. That is also what he is persistently doing - every day, every little thing, not noisy, not ostentatious - but enough to create positive changes, even the smallest ones, for the community around him.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chang-sinh-vien-lang-le-geo-mam-tu-te-giua-long-can-tho-185250725111120891.htm