Spreading love for the sea and islands of our homeland.

Over the past 10 years, the "Students with the Sea and Islands of the Fatherland" program has consistently been an activity of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Student Union, widely embraced and participated in by students with deep affection; contributing to fostering love for the sea and islands of the homeland.

In 2013, the "Students with the Sea and Islands of the Fatherland" program, organized for the first time by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Student Union, brought 900 students to Ly Son Island, Quang Ngai Province. The program's starting point was Ly Son – an island considered a living museum preserving evidence of the Fatherland's sovereignty over its sea and islands, along with generations of courageous fishermen who bravely defended the traditional fishing grounds of their ancestors. Many meaningful and practical activities demonstrating the high level of student action were organized on the island, such as: constructing a national flag pole; displaying 23 "Student Scientific Research Models Focusing on the Sea and Islands of the Fatherland"; and exhibiting "Models and Pictures of Life on the Sea and Islands"...

In 2014, the program took place on Tho Chu Island, Kien Giang province, with the highlight being the construction of a national flag pole on Tho Chu Island with a total investment of nearly 1 billion VND. Following this success, in 2015, the "Students with the Sea and Islands of the Fatherland" program brought together the largest number of students ever, with 1200 outstanding students from across the country, along with Vietnamese students studying in European countries and Laotian students, to Cu Lao Xanh Island (Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh).

With the spirit that every student and young person is a propagandist for love of the sea and islands, for the undeniable sovereignty of the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, and a messenger of peace carrying messages of friendship and cooperation to all five continents, the delegates participating in the program have implemented many meaningful programs and activities. These include the construction of national flagpoles on the frontline islands and the launch of a fleet of 12 fishing vessels for fishermen engaged in offshore fishing...

The highlight of the program was the spectacular and large-scale music night "Soaring Spirit, Flying Aspirations," featuring many stars and thousands of young students from Quy Nhon city. This was also the first art program to affirm "Hoang Sa and Truong Sa belong to Vietnam," clearly protesting China's construction of artificial islands right on stage.

Following that, the "Students with the Sea and Islands of the Fatherland" program was organized on Co To, Phu Quy, Phu Quoc, and Con Dao islands. Over the past 10 years, the program has brought more than 3,000 members and students from both within and outside Vietnam to the islands of Ly Son, Phu Quoc, Tho Chu, Cu Lao Xanh, Co To, Phu Quy, and Con Dao. The program included many significant and practical activities such as: visiting and giving gifts to families of wounded soldiers, martyrs, and heroic Vietnamese mothers; giving gifts and encouraging relatives and families of officers and soldiers serving on the islands; giving gifts, flags, and fishing gear to fishermen; and supporting local tourism and economic development. In addition, activities were organized to educate students about maritime sovereignty and to hold art programs for the people on the islands.

In particular, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Student Union has constructed five national flagpoles on the islands of Ly Son, Phu Quy, Tran, Cu Lao Xanh, and Tho Chu. This is a prime example of the Vietnam Student Union's efforts in educating and fostering patriotism and national spirit, affirming Vietnam's sovereignty over its maritime territory. The flagpoles have also become scenic spots attracting many tourists and local people for visits and community activities.

The "Students with the Sea and Islands of the Fatherland" program has created a widespread impact nationwide. Many provincial and city youth unions have responded, annually sending outstanding students and young people to volunteer on the islands, engaging in exchanges, visiting and encouraging the local people, and carrying out many projects and tasks, contributing the energy of youth to the development of the homeland's sea and islands.

Since 2015, every summer, the Binh Duong Provincial Youth Union has organized volunteer teams to go to Phu Quy Island in Binh Thuan Province. Mr. Thai Kien Thuan, Director of the Provincial Youth Activities Center and Vice President of the Binh Duong Provincial Youth Union, has been involved with Phu Quy since 2013, conducting surveys to understand the needs and aspirations of the island's residents. He then assembled volunteer student teams to go to the island. He said that in this year's Green Summer Campaign, Binh Duong organized a volunteer team of 20 volunteers to provide free medical examinations and medicine to 200 households and repair two houses on the island. Mr. Thuan added that Phu Quy is currently a popular tourist destination, so on each volunteer trip, he and his team focus on environmental sanitation, cleaning the beaches, and beautifying the coastline. He initiated the painting and decoration of the Phu Quy seawall to create a check-in spot for tourists. "Each of my trips to Phu Quy Island lasts a whole month. Therefore, the sea, the islands, and the people here have become my second home," Thuan shared.

Concluding the 2023 "Students with the Sea and Islands of the Fatherland" program, Mr. Nguyen Minh Triet, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Youth Union and President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Student Association, assessed that through the activities during the voyage, the delegates conveyed the deep and heartfelt attachment of the mainland to Truong Sa, understood and experienced firsthand the lives of the soldiers and civilians on the islands, and above all, felt a sense of pride. "Proud because our officers and soldiers are always steadfast, loyal, courageous, and ready to overcome storms, hardships, and challenges at the forefront of the waves. Proud because our Fatherland Vietnam has outstanding, resilient, and indomitable sons and daughters who are daily and hourly holding their weapons firmly to protect the sacred sovereignty of our nation's seas and skies. And within that great pride, there is also a small sense of pride in the enthusiasm of the delegates on this journey," Mr. Triet said.

Mr. Triet expressed his hope that, from this trip, having witnessed firsthand the difficulties and hardships faced by the officers and soldiers, each delegate in the delegation would be empowered and become an ambassador, conveying messages and emotions about love for the country and love for the sea and islands. At the same time, each delegate needs to deeply understand their honor and responsibility in inheriting, firmly protecting, and developing the immense potential of the sea and islands. "Each person, with their own strength, must always be ready to take the lead, volunteer, and continue to contribute and dedicate their efforts to Truong Sa and our beloved sea and islands," Mr. Triet said.

Emphasizing that the country has nearly 3,000 islands, including the two remote island districts of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, Mr. Triet suggested that the members and students, with their youthful energy and enthusiasm, should continue their meaningful journeys and projects to further strengthen and develop our islands and seas.

Following the success of the "Students with the Sea and Islands of the Fatherland" program in 2023, Mr. Nguyen Minh Triet stated that the Central Secretariat of the Vietnam Student Union will continue to propose to the Central Secretariat of the Youth Union and the Ministry of National Defense and the Navy to maintain this program annually and expand it to more near-shore islands and island communes in the Truong Sa Archipelago. In particular, the Vietnam Student Union will continue to connect and coordinate to implement student projects in the Truong Sa Archipelago and strive to inaugurate this meaningful project during the next voyage to Truong Sa by the Vietnam Student Union.

On this occasion, Mr. Nguyen Minh Triet also suggested that all levels of the Student Union nationwide strengthen the implementation of propaganda activities on the sovereignty of the Fatherland's seas and islands, and at the same time promote the implementation of emulation campaigns to celebrate the 11th National Congress of the Vietnam Student Union, term 2023 - 2028.

PIONEER

Source: https://tienphong.vn/mot-thap-ky-hanh-trinh-sinh-vien-khang-dinh-chu-quyen-bien-dao-lan-toa-tinh-yeu-bien-dao-to-quoc-post1563948.tpo