18-year-old luggage of the youngest member of the 0-dong Rescue Team

In just a few days, Ha Trung Chien (born 2007, residing in Van Mieu commune) will turn 18 years old. Unlike many young people who choose to travel or explore, the journey of adulthood of this first-year student, Faculty of Social Sciences and Culture and Tourism, Hung Vuong University is full of challenging "free" trips. From providing relief to flood victims in Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Dien Bien, Thanh Hoa provinces to spending all night drifting on the river searching for victims. For Chien, it is not only a way for young people to assert themselves but also a way to convey a message of humanity, coming from the heart and the desire to help people.

In just a few days, Ha Trung Chien (born 2007, residing in Van Mieu commune) will turn 18 years old. Unlike many young people who choose to travel or explore, the journey of adulthood of this first-year student, Faculty of Social Sciences and Culture and Tourism, Hung Vuong University is full of challenging "free" trips. From providing relief to flood victims in Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang , Dien Bien, Thanh Hoa provinces to spending all night drifting on the river searching for victims. For Chien, it is not only a way for young people to assert themselves but also a way to convey a message of humanity, coming from the heart and the desire to help people.

Admiring the spirit of self-sacrifice for the community, the 17-year-old boy expressed his wish to join the team. To become an official member, Chien had to undergo a 3-month probationary period with strict training. From swimming skills in complex conditions, driving lifeboats to first aid and rescue skills for victims. In December 2024, Chien graduated from the probationary class and officially became the youngest member of the "0 Dong" Rescue Team.

For nearly a year, Chien has followed the team on many landslide roads, drifted through many flooded areas, and completed many emergency rescue missions. He recalls the rescue of a serious flood in Thai Nguyen . The water was strong, houses were deeply submerged, people were isolated, and there was no food for many days. With the agility and enthusiasm of youth, Chien and his teammates helped bring more than 30 stranded people to safety. The gratitude in the eyes of the people in the flooded area was the strongest motivation.

However, the most difficult task and also the biggest challenge for the 18-year-old student was the sleepless nights searching for victims in the river. The first time he came into contact with a corpse, fear gripped Chien. Although he told himself that this was an unavoidable part of the mission, the obsession still existed.

Chien recounted: "The first time, I didn't dare touch it. I was overwhelmed by fear and coldness. The bodies that had drowned in the river for many days were no longer intact, it was truly a haunting image."

However, after being encouraged by his teammates, he looked towards the riverbank where the victim’s family was waiting for him to gain strength. Chien gradually got used to the smell of death and now, he was able to pull and transfer the body onto the boat to the mainland, handing it over to the victim’s family.

Coming into contact with the student with gentle eyes and a bright smile, I jokingly asked: "Participating in such a risky job, do you carry any spiritual protective items with you?". Chien smiled, a smile that was both sincere and determined: "I don't. For me, a good heart is the greatest protector that protects me."

Behind the young man who loves to conquer and challenges, Chien's parents are always a warm support. Many times, they also worry and prevent him because they are afraid that he will be in danger, but knowing that this is what their son is passionate about, his parents only advise him to be careful and always update the family regularly. That silent, tolerant support is the great source of spiritual strength that helps Chien firmly step on his volunteer journey.

When talking about his wishes and plans for the future, Chien firmly said: "I will continue to accompany the team while pursuing my personal activities. I want my youth to be meaningful and not let it pass by in vain."

In his role as a member of the team’s communications committee, Chien also shared a humanitarian project that his team members are pursuing: asking for sponsorship for a “zero-dong” ambulance. This vehicle will be used to transport victims and support patients in difficult circumstances everywhere.

"We want to help in a certain situation, to do everything in its entirety, to comfort the family and ease the loss they are going through," Chien said.

After each trip, Chien feels himself growing up, growing in awareness, love and appreciation for life. The message “giving is forever” is not just a slogan but a guiding principle for all of Chien’s actions. His youth and that of many other young people who are tirelessly on the volunteer journey are living proof of the humane and beautiful imprint of the young generation of the Ancestral Land.

Thuy Trang

Source: https://baophutho.vn/hanh-trang-tuoi-18-cua-thanh-vien-nho-tuoi-nhat-doi-cuu-nan-cuu-ho-0-dong-242511.htm