Lo Cong Thanh, a student in class 8A4 at Si Pa Phin Primary and Secondary Boarding School (Si Pa Phin commune, Dien Bien province), comes from a particularly difficult background. His father passed away when he was young, and his mother remarried. Lo Cong Thanh lives with his paternal grandparents, who are struggling financially . Sympathizing with Lo Cong Thanh's situation, in 2023, the Si Pa Phin Border Guard Post adopted him. He was provided with a private room with all the necessary amenities and a clean study area. Every day, in addition to his schoolwork, he receives guidance from the soldiers on sweeping the yard, watering vegetables, exercising, and studying in the evenings.

Officers from the Pa Thơm Border Guard Post are helping their adopted child with her studies.

Since becoming a foster child of the border guard post and living and training within the unit, Lo Cong Thanh has become increasingly confident and mature. He proudly told us: “On days off, I really enjoy helping out in the kitchen. I’ve noticed and learned how to cook a few dishes. When I go home, I cook for my family. Everyone in the family praises the food and encourages me, saying that being with the soldiers has helped me learn many things and acquire many good qualities.” For the past two years, Lo Cong Thanh has consistently achieved good and excellent grades in his studies and training. Speaking about his dreams and aspirations, Lo Cong Thanh is determined to study hard so that he can become a border guard in the future, contributing to the building and protection of his homeland.

Lieutenant Colonel Tô Hiến Quyên, a community outreach officer at the Si Pa Phìn Border Guard Post, told me: “The unit has closely coordinated with local Party committees, authorities, and schools in the area to survey and understand the circumstances and aspirations of students' families. We pay more attention to students from particularly disadvantaged families who have a strong desire to excel in their studies; students from families receiving preferential treatment, those with prestige, and those actively involved in border protection; and students from ethnic minorities… The selection of students to be fostered at the post ensures that the right people are chosen, building trust and gaining the support of the people.”

After 10 years of implementing the "Helping Children Go to School - Children Adopted by Border Guard Posts" program, 13 border guard posts under the Dien Bien Provincial Border Guard Command have surveyed and adopted 54 students. The units have provided the children with a total of over 900 million VND to purchase supplies and materials for their daily lives and studies; and presented 190 gifts worth over 175 million VND to the children during holidays and festivals.

Currently, the Border Guard units in Dien Bien province are fostering 26 children. Every month, in addition to providing 500,000 VND to each child, officers and soldiers at the border guard posts also guide their studies and take care of their meals and sleep. Lieutenant Colonel Tran Van Sy, Deputy Political Officer of Pa Thom Border Guard Post (Thanh Yen commune, Dien Bien province), shared: “In the early days of being fostered by the soldiers at the border guard post, the children were very unfamiliar with things like personal hygiene and organizing their belongings; they were not yet accustomed to the discipline of the military environment. Each child has their own difficult circumstances with different strengths and weaknesses, thoughts and feelings, so the officers and soldiers patiently talked to them and guided them. Through time, with guidance and correction of small habits, the children have learned to do many things and are gradually maturing.”

Soldiers at Pa Thơm Border Guard Post and their adopted children tend to the vegetable garden.

Speaking to us about the coordination and connection between the Border Guard and the school, and the changes in the students who are adopted children of the border guard, Mr. Ha Van Thanh, Principal of Pa Thom Primary and Secondary School, said: “After living with the soldiers, we see that the children are making progress in many aspects, most notably attending school regularly, having a better attitude towards learning and training, and achieving more positive results.”

According to Colonel Le Duc Nghia, Deputy Political Commissar of the Dien Bien Provincial Border Guard Command: “To effectively implement the program “Helping Children Go to School - Children Adopted by Border Guard Posts”, units under the Dien Bien Provincial Border Guard Command focus on training and exchanging experiences with officers directly sponsoring, managing, caring for, and educating the adopted children. In addition to regularly exchanging information about their lives and studies with families and schools to understand the children, we create conditions for their holistic development through life skills lessons such as self-care, cleaning their rooms, and participating in agricultural production with officers and soldiers. With the care and love of the soldiers, the children always consider the border guard posts their second home.”

Along with many planned projects and models, the "Helping Children Go to School - Children Adopted by Border Guard Posts" program contributes to inspiring students' aspirations, gradually raising the intellectual level of the population, and developing human resources for border areas. Through this, it strengthens the solidarity between the military and the people, and reinforces the people's trust in the Border Guard Force in the cause of protecting national sovereignty and border security.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/nuoi-duong-van-hoa-bo-doi-cu-ho/mai-nha-thu-hai-cua-hoc-tro-bien-gioi-1039082