Militia soldiers reaching out to the community.

After his duty hours, when many have returned to their own lives, soldier Dinh Tuan Phat, from the militia force of the Tan Hoa Ward Military Command, Ho Chi Minh City, quietly goes to a classroom deep within a residential area to teach English to underprivileged children.

Militia soldiers from An Hoi Dong ward clean up canals and ditches.

Without a grand lecture hall or elaborate lesson plans, just a blackboard and chalk, soldier Tuan Phat is patiently sowing the seeds of knowledge, opening up hope for those disadvantaged.

In the small classroom of the Chi Lang-Nam Hoa Primary School, 23 students from diverse backgrounds—some orphaned, some motherless, some with developmental delays or autism—all sat neatly, waiting for their teacher. Mr. Dinh Tuan Phat began his lesson with simple greetings, interspersed with small games to create a sense of closeness. Phat believes that teaching is not just about imparting knowledge, but a journey of patiently accompanying the children. “There were times I sat with one student for the entire lesson just to complete a few lines of writing. Seeing them progress little by little, the joy is indescribable,” Phat shared.

Mr. Phat's method is well-suited to the classroom environment. Lessons are broken down, taught slowly, and repeated many times, linked to familiar situations in daily life. This persistence has gradually yielded positive results, as shy glances have been replaced by confident hands raised to speak. Le Thi Thuy Linh, a third-grade student, wrote in a letter to Mr. Phat: "Thank you, teacher, for teaching me English. You helped me go from knowing nothing to being able to confidently speak many words... You also often joke with us and are very approachable." The handwriting may be messy, and the sentences unclear, but they show the trust and affection these underprivileged students have for Mr. Dinh Tuan Phat.

Joining the militia in 2025, soldier Dinh Tuan Phat has consistently performed his assigned duties well. From training and combat readiness to patrolling and maintaining security and order, he participates fully, seriously, and responsibly. What is admirable about this young soldier is his proactive spirit and willingness to take on difficult and new tasks. He not only fulfills his military duties but also actively participates in social activities and supports his comrades. Phat expressed: “National defense duties and social responsibility are always closely intertwined and inseparable. For me, maintaining peace in the area means protecting the lives of the people, and helping those in difficult circumstances contributes to building a foundation for the future.”

Lieutenant Colonel Pham Do Phuong, Commander of the Tan Hoa Ward Military Command, affirmed: "Soldier Dinh Tuan Phat is a prime example, not only fulfilling his duties well but also demonstrating profound humanistic spirit, a beautiful image of a militia soldier in peacetime."

Not only in Tan Hoa ward, but in many localities throughout the city, the militia and self-defense forces are implementing many practical community-oriented models. In residential area 17, Chanh Hung ward, the "Green Kitchen" program has long become a familiar meeting place for poor laborers.

From early morning, people were present to receive meals and essential supplies. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong, a lottery ticket vendor, emotionally stated: "Although it's not much, for us, every penny saved is a blessing." Beside her, Mr. Tran Van Hai, a motorbike taxi driver, added: "Thanks to this program, my family now has a hearty breakfast for the children."

The "Green Kitchen" program, organized by the Youth Union of the Chanh Hung Ward Military Command in coordination with the Youth Union of Block 17, aims to provide food and meals to people in difficult circumstances, poor laborers, motorbike taxi drivers, and orphaned children. The program is implemented once a month and, starting in 2024, distributes an average of 200 to 500 meals each time, including sticky rice, steamed rice rolls, stir-fried noodles, and bottled water.

To provide meals for disadvantaged workers, the ward's militia and youth union members work together, from purchasing ingredients to preparing and distributing the meals directly to everyone. Nguyen Duy Nam, Secretary of the Youth Union of Ward 17, said: "We always consider these meals as a responsibility, an expression of affection, and a sign of respect for the recipients. In addition, activities such as the 'Zero-Cost Shop' and free haircuts are maintained to provide practical support for people in need."

With a community-oriented spirit, the militia and self-defense forces in the city have recently been actively participating in environmental protection activities, cleaning up, removing garbage, and clearing waterways in many polluted canals and ditches.

Assessing the role of the militia force, Major General Vu Van Dien, Commander of the City Command, affirmed: “The force has closely coordinated with other units, maintaining political security and social order, while actively participating in socio-economic development, disaster prevention and control, and epidemic control, contributing to building a solid ‘people's support’ base.” In the new phase, the militia force must always be ready to fight and improve its capacity to handle non-traditional security situations. Practical experience shows that, from wartime to peacetime, this force has always been present where it is most needed, from the front lines of epidemic control to everyday community activities.

Proud of the glorious 91-year tradition of the militia and self-defense forces, the soldiers with the square star emblem in the city are always present in local military tasks and in every corner of people's lives. Their silent actions are daily affirming the role of the militia and self-defense forces as a reliable support for the Party committee, the government, and the people...

LE THANH

Source: https://nhandan.vn/chien-si-dan-quan-tu-ve-huong-ve-cong-dong-post956200.html