Spreading love from the activity "Navy sponsors fishermen's children"

Throughout the seas of the Fatherland, where fishermen go out to sea day and night to maintain their traditional profession amidst the rough seas, there are always marine soldiers standing by their side, silently sharing every difficulty and hardship. One of the humane activities, spreading love and community responsibility that the Navy has been carrying out recently is the activity "The Navy sponsors fishermen's children".

At the Naval Region 5 Command - a unit stationed in the southwestern sea of ​​the Fatherland, the activity has been widely deployed, leaving a strong impression in the hearts of the people and local authorities.

The leader of the Naval Region 5 Command presented the decision for the Navy to adopt the child of a fisherman in Ca Mau province.

To better understand the meaning, implementation methods, and touching stories surrounding this humane activity, a collaborator of Ca Mau Newspaper interviewed Colonel Ngo Van Thanh, Political Commissar of Naval Region 5 Command.

- Dear comrade, it is known that "The Navy sponsors fishermen's children" is a meaningful and humane activity that has been effectively implemented by the Naval Region 5 Command. Could you please tell us more about the content and implementation of this activity?

Colonel Ngo Van Thanh: “The Navy sponsors fishermen’s children” is a military-civilian solidarity activity launched and implemented by the Navy in 28 coastal provinces and cities across the country. The purpose of the activity is to support, assist, and encourage children under 18 years old who are children of fishermen in especially difficult circumstances. These are orphans; parents who have had accidents or injuries while making a living at sea, have lost their ability to work, or children from poor households or families in difficult circumstances.

We believe that this is not only a simple act of assistance but also a sacred responsibility and sentiment of the marine soldiers towards the fishermen. Thereby, we not only provide timely support and give them more strength to overcome their circumstances, study with peace of mind, strive to improve themselves, but also contribute to strengthening the solidarity between the army and the people, creating a foundation for fishermen to confidently go out to sea, stick to the sea, and together with the Navy force firmly protect the sovereignty of the sacred sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Lieutenant Colonel Dang Trong Son, Deputy Political Commissar of Regiment 551, encouraged the children of fishermen the unit sponsored to study.

For the Naval Region 5 Command, from 2022 to present, we have directed the units under the Region to survey, make a list and sponsor 4 children of fishermen in especially difficult circumstances in Kien Giang and Ca Mau provinces. The children are supported with a regular budget of 500,000 VND per month, along with books, school supplies, medical supplies, necessities and many accompanying and caring activities until they turn 18 years old. The funds for this activity are carefully and economically saved by officers and soldiers of the units from increased production sources.

- Dear comrade, in your role as Political Commissar of Naval Region 5 Command, how do you evaluate the effectiveness and significance of this activity for the fishing community in the southwestern sea of ​​the Fatherland?

Colonel Ngo Van Thanh: It can be said that this activity is truly a bright spot of humanity, a strong bridge connecting marine soldiers with the people. Not only does it bring material value through scholarships, medical support, school supplies, and necessities, but what is more valuable is the sincere affection, love, and sharing that is spread to each family and each less fortunate child.

Many fishing families have been empowered and their burdens have been somewhat relieved thanks to the timely care, support and companionship of the Navy. There are children who were at risk of having to drop out of school, but thanks to this activity, they have not only been able to continue going to school but have also become exemplary examples of overcoming difficulties in the community.

More importantly, this activity has contributed to strengthening the military-civilian relationship, consolidating the people's trust in the care of the Party, State, Army and socio-political organizations for the difficult lives of the sea and island areas. From there, the people are more attached, confident, and ready to join the army to firmly maintain the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

- During the implementation of the program, there must have been special circumstances that moved you, the officers and soldiers, and left you deeply remembered?

Colonel Ngo Van Thanh: Yes, each case that we sponsor is a special and touching life story. Let me tell you a few typical cases.

Like La Mai Thuy Linh, in Song Doc town, Tran Van Thoi district, Ca Mau province, her father died in a traffic accident when he had just returned from a long trip to the sea. Her mother left home and disappeared, leaving her two sisters to depend on their elderly and weak grandmother. The day we visited, the small house was dilapidated, simple, empty, and lacking in every way. Since being adopted by Regiment 551 (Naval Region 5 Command) and Factory X55 (Naval Logistics and Engineering Department), the children have been supported with funds, books, medicine, necessities, and are regularly visited and encouraged by soldiers like relatives. Now, the children are confident, well-behaved, and have made significant progress in their studies.

Another situation is Le My Duyen, in An Thoi ward, Phu Quoc city, Kien Giang province. Her family is in difficult circumstances and has to stay with relatives. Duyen's father works as a seafarer, and her mother does not have a stable job. Duyen is the eldest of four siblings, one of whom has a developmental disorder. The family's difficult life once made Duyen intend to drop out of school early to work to help her parents raise her younger siblings. Understanding that situation, Brigade 127 (Naval Region 5 Command) took Duyen under their wing, providing regular support every month, and often encouraging and giving her confidence. Thanks to that, Duyen not only continued to go to school but was also an excellent student for many years. Every time the soldiers visited, the small house was filled with laughter, and Duyen's eyes shone with faith in a bright future.

Lieutenant Colonel Dang Trong Son, Deputy Political Commissar of Regiment 551, presented gifts to a fishing family whose child was sponsored by the unit.

- To continue to maintain, promote effectiveness and spread widely this activity, what plans and orientations does the Naval Region 5 Command have in the coming time, comrade?

Colonel Ngo Van Thanh: We have determined that the implementation of the activity “Navy sponsors fishermen’s children” is a long-term process. Therefore, in the coming time, the Naval Region 5 Command will continue to direct units to closely coordinate with local Party committees, authorities, organizations and unions to review and grasp the living conditions of fishing households and children in especially difficult circumstances. From there, we will make a specific list and gradually sponsor more cases.

Along with financial support, school supplies, necessities, and medical care, we will continue to increase activities of visiting, encouraging, and accompanying the children like family members. Each officer and soldier will become a father, an older brother, and a great friend to the children, giving them the strength to overcome difficulties, confidently excel in their studies, training, and become good citizens.

In addition, we will promote propaganda and mobilize organizations, businesses, and philanthropists to participate so that the movement can spread more widely. Thereby, we will create a network of charity, together caring for and educating the young generation in the sea and islands, building a solid national defense posture at the forefront.

- Thank you Colonel Ngo Van Thanh for your heartfelt sharing. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Navy (May 7, 1955 - May 7, 2025), I wish you and the officers and soldiers of the Naval Region 5 Command to always successfully complete the assigned tasks and continue to write more beautiful stories about the military-civilian relationship in the midst of stormy seas!

- Photo 3: Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Luong Khuyen, Political Commissar of Brigade 127, presented support money and gifts to a fishing family whose child was sponsored by the unit.

Performed by Van Dinh

Source: https://baocamau.vn/lan-toa-yeu-thuong-tu-hoat-dong-hai-quan-nhan-do-dau-con-ngu-dan--a38804.html