Helping dreams take flight and overcome mountains.

QTO - Besides successfully fulfilling the task of firmly protecting national sovereignty and border security, in recent times, border guard posts under the Border Guard Command of Quang Ninh province have also effectively implemented social welfare support work, especially the "Adopted Children of Border Guard Posts - Helping Children Go to School" model. Among them, Huong Phung Border Guard Post is one of the shining examples. Through this humane model, it has helped fulfill the dreams of going to school and build a bright future for many children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Many students from extremely disadvantaged backgrounds have been sponsored and cared for by the Huong Phung Border Guard Station - Photo: DV

Mai Quoc Tuan (4th grade) and Mai Thi Thanh Tuyen (3rd grade), siblings of the Van Kieu ethnic group, come from a very difficult background. Their father passed away early, and their mother abandoned them, leaving them to live alone with their elderly grandparents in Xa Ry village, Huong Phung commune. Since their family's separation, they have lacked not only the care and love of their parents but also food and clothing. At their most tragic and heartbreaking time, in July 2025, Tuan and Tuyen were adopted by the Huong Phung Border Guard Post.

Since arriving at the border guard post, the two children have been provided with adequate living conditions, food, and education. The unit has also assigned officers and soldiers to care for, educate, and mentor them attentively in all matters. Looking back at her adopted children after a few months of care, seeing how they have "transformed," become well-behaved, and made daily progress in their studies, Major Nguyen Thi Van, an administrative staff member at Huong Phung Border Guard Post, could not hide her joy and emotion. Major Van recounted: "In the first few days after being welcomed to the post, the children looked thin, their clothes were disheveled, and their eyes were fearful and bewildered; it was heartbreaking to see. Not only were they physically weak, but when they first arrived at the unit, both siblings had very poor academic performance. Therefore, the officers and soldiers of Huong Phung Border Guard Post had to closely supervise and care for them in every aspect, from their studies to their meals and daily lives. After several months of proper care, seeing the children change so much, everyone is happy." Thanks to the loving hearts and thoughtful care of the "fathers and mothers in green uniforms," ​​the children have gradually improved physically and made progress in their studies and daily lives. Mrs. Ho Thi Que (63 years old), the grandmother of Tuan and Tuyen, couldn't hide her joy at seeing her grandchildren being so well cared for and becoming increasingly well-behaved and obedient. Mrs. Que said emotionally, "Seeing the children healthy, happy, and making progress in their studies, we are so happy. My husband and I are both old, and life is so difficult that we don't have the means to take good care of them. Luckily, they are being cared for by the Huong Phung Border Guard Post. We hope they will continue to be raised to be good people, grow up to have a better future. My grandchildren and I are very grateful to the officers and soldiers of the Huong Phung Border Guard Post."

Due to extremely difficult family circumstances, siblings Mai Quoc Tuan and Mai Thi Thanh Tuyen were adopted and cared for by the Huong Phung Border Guard Station - Photo: DV

Standing next to his grandmother, Tuan confidently shared: “We are very happy to be adopted by the border guards. Here, the officers and soldiers love us very much and provide us with enough clothes, shoes, and books. Thanks to their regular tutoring, we have made progress in our studies. We promise to try our best to be well-behaved and study hard so as not to disappoint them.” In addition to adopting Tuan and Tuyen, the Huong Phung Border Guard Post has also implemented the “Helping Children Go to School” program. Through this program, the unit is currently sponsoring 12 students from the Van Kieu ethnic group, including one Laotian child. Each month, the children receive 500,000 VND as per regulations. Furthermore, thanks to the monthly contributions of the unit's officers and soldiers, the children also receive clothes, school supplies, and gifts during holidays, Tet (Lunar New Year), and the start of the new school year.

It is known that, to date, units under the Provincial Border Guard Command are fostering and supporting hundreds of students in border areas, including Lao children. Specifically, the "Border Guard Post Foster Children" model has fostered 44 children; the "Helping Children Go to School" program supports 146 children until they complete grade 12, funded by the Provincial Border Guard. In addition, the Provincial Border Guard also fosters 25 children and supports 289 children from national target programs.

Lieutenant Colonel Ngo Quang Thuyen, Political Officer of Huong Phung Border Guard Station, said: “Implementing the program “Adopted Children of Border Guard Stations - Helping Children Go to School”, we determined that this is a humane and deeply meaningful act, demonstrating the responsibility and affection of border guards towards the younger generation in the border areas of the Fatherland.

This helps students from disadvantaged backgrounds continue their education and nurture their dreams. At the same time, it creates new individuals to form the core of the future in building, managing, and protecting the border.” According to Lieutenant Colonel Thuyen, to effectively implement the program, over the years, the unit has proactively coordinated with local authorities and schools in the area to review children from disadvantaged backgrounds, especially those at risk of dropping out or lacking the means to attend school. Based on understanding these specific circumstances, the unit develops plans and strategies to provide practical assistance to these children.

Tuan and Tuyen, the brothers, are being mentored by border guards in their studies - Photo: DV

In the vast Trường Sơn mountain range, the journey to literacy for the children of the local people has never been easy, especially for those from particularly disadvantaged backgrounds. Therefore, the empathy and loving embrace of the soldiers in "green uniforms" have continued to nurture their dreams of education. So that in the future, with their perseverance and determination to study, they can confidently "cross the mountains" and build a bright future, thanks to the humane support of the compassionate hearts of the soldiers of Uncle Ho on the border...

Duc Viet

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202602/chap-canh-nhung-uoc-mo-vuot-nui-3710cce/