Episode 5. The Dream of the Kiln

(BLC) - After becoming a Party member, being elected village head and then Party branch secretary, Mr. Pờ Lò Hừ has always strived to help the villagers develop economically , culturally, and socially. With the belief that he must help his village escape hardship and poverty, and achieve progress, he has never shied away from any task. To the villagers, he has become a pioneering figure, leading the way towards a more prosperous and comfortable village.

Thanks to his efforts, dynamism, and creativity, in 2007, Mr. Pờ Lò Hừ was trusted by the people of Pha Bu village and elected as village head. In 2010, he was elected as a representative to the Commune People's Council, and notably, in 2014, he was elected as the Party Secretary of Pha Bu village. Becoming the village leader and especially becoming a communist party member, having sworn to dedicate his life to the cause of the Party, he understood that he had to strive and make even greater efforts for his village, his community, and his people. Returning to the issue of drug addiction, as mentioned, Lò Hừ soon realized that the dream offered by opium could not change the reality of poverty in his village and for the La Hủ people. Therefore, even though there were quite a few addicts around him at that time, he still pursued his dream. Old people are addicted, young people are addicted, men and women are addicted, even teachers who came here to live in remote villages, due to loneliness and hardship, could not escape the clutches of "the brown fairy" (heroin).

When he became the village leader, he was deeply concerned about this issue. He did everything from talking to people, sharing his experiences, campaigning, and even providing financial and food support to encouraging people to go to rehabilitation centers, take substitute medication, and even raising the children of addicts. He did all of this with the dedication to changing the public's preconceived notions about the "Yellow Leaf ethnic group." Of course, everyone knows the story of the "addict's confession," but as someone working at the grassroots level, he helped many people avoid the alluring smoke of drugs and prevented others from falling into this quagmire. In Pha Bu today, people still tell the story of how Lo Hu resolutely refused to allow a "well-known" person, someone considered to be of particular concern regarding public order and security, to return to the village, because if this person returned, the number of drug addicts among the community would certainly become uncontrollable.

Besides combating drug trafficking, he also didn't forget to eradicate the "ghosts of hunger and poverty." He knew this was incredibly difficult, but he thought: "I'm not the best, not the strongest in the village or commune, but if I can do it, so can the villagers." Since he became the village leader, dozens of households have escaped poverty thanks to his help, whether direct or indirect. Sometimes he visits their homes, sometimes he invites them over for meals and drinks, and then gently advises them. He helps some with land preparation, others by selling or giving them cardamom and red fruit tree seedlings, and once he even brought goats for them to raise. He lends money without interest to those who need it, helps those who need labor, and encourages others to help. He lets those who want to learn a trade work alongside his family in the fields… Through hands-on guidance and technical supervision, he has helped many people escape poverty. Expressing his joy at being guided by Lo Hu on how to escape poverty, Mr. Ly Ly Khu (from Pha Bu village) shared: “Without Mr. Lo Hu’s guidance, instruction, and loans for economic development, my family would probably still be among the poorest in the village today. Currently, out of 99 households in the village, one-third have escaped poverty, and that is thanks to his efforts. We trust and respect him very much. When he talks about protecting the forest, protecting the border, or donating land for roads… we all agree and follow his advice. Thank you, Party Secretary and Head of Pha Bu village – Po Lo Hu.”

Not only does Lo Hu dream of providing for his people, but he also wants to help them become more educated. He encourages them to go to school, especially to send their children to learn the literacy of President Ho Chi Minh. Many people don't like the idea of education, but when he says, "I'm 19 years old and I still want to go to school," they agree. To set an example for the people, all my children attend school regularly, ensuring none of them are uneducated. Besides caring for the "young sprouts" of the village, he also cares for the next generation of the Party. He says, "Since joining the Party, I've always wanted everyone in my community to be a Party member so they can have broader knowledge and the Party organization can become stronger." Therefore, in my work, production, and daily interactions, I always pay attention to who has the qualities, the potential, and who are outstanding individuals to help, thereby creating a source for introduction to the Party,” Lo Hu shared. It sounds easy, but in a place where poverty and backwardness are almost commonplace, finding “red seeds” is not easy. Even after finding them, one must assess their thoughts, aspirations, and abilities to see if they are worthy of being a Party member, followed by numerous regulations and constraints. But with the mindset of sifting through sand to find gold, he has so far introduced and helped Po Ga Du, Po Do Hu, and Pha Do Ca join the Party. When we visited, he enthusiastically said, “This year I will cultivate two key individuals for the Party.”

As someone who has closely followed the development and activities of Lo Hu, Comrade Ly Anh Hu - Secretary of the Muong Te District Party Committee - affirmed: "Po Lo Hu is a Party member who dares to think and act, is very dynamic and creative. In particular, he has made significant contributions to reviving the economy and society in Pa U commune, serving as an example for the La Hu people to follow." Meanwhile, Major Ngo Van Phuong, Political Officer of the Pa U Border Guard Post, also praised him profusely: "As someone who has closely followed the development and activities of Lo Hu, Comrade Ly Anh Hu - Secretary of the Muong Te District Party Committee - affirmed: 'Po Lo Hu is a Party member who dares to think and act, is very dynamic and creative. In particular, he has made significant contributions to reviving the economy and society in Pa U commune, serving as an example for the La Hu people to follow.'" Meanwhile, Major Ngo Van Phuong, Political Officer of the Pa U Border Guard Post, had nothing but praise: "Thanks to Lo Hu, the protection of sovereignty and border security, as well as the mass mobilization work of the Pa U Border Guard Post, has achieved many results. He is not only a capable, enthusiastic, and responsible Party branch secretary and village head, but also a respected figure, a guiding light for the La Hu people to follow."

It would be remiss of this article not to mention the recognition from various levels and sectors regarding the efforts and growth of Lo Hu. In its newly built, spacious stilt house, Lo Hu has a room dedicated to displaying a portrait of President Ho Chi Minh and the certificates and awards bestowed upon it by various levels. In the center of the room, beneath the portrait of President Ho Chi Minh, is a Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister awarded in 2023 for "having an effective and stable production model that helps other farmers alleviate poverty and create jobs for laborers in Lai Chau province."