“Godmother” – Helping build the future

“Godmother” is a program implemented by the Women's Union of Lao Cai Border Guard Command, Bat Xat Border Guard Station, Y Ty Border Guard Station in coordination with philanthropists, to help and support students with especially difficult circumstances in border areas to continue going to school and build a bright future.

Lo Van Chau, from Vi Phai village, Bat Xat commune, is 14 years old. Chau currently lives with his grandparents, who are over 60 years old and constantly sick. Chau can no longer remember his parents' faces, because they left the area when he was young; he has not been in contact with his family for many years.

Providing financial support and gifts to children in Bat Xat commune under the "Godmother" program.

Due to his family's difficult circumstances, after school, Chau helps his grandparents with farming and livestock farming to earn income and cover living and studying expenses.

Recently, with the help of Bat Xat Border Guard Station and benefactors, Chau has received support in the "Godmother" program with an amount of 500,000 VND/month. For many families, this amount is not large, but for Chau's family, it is a significant amount of money for her to buy more books, notebooks, rice, vegetables, continue to strive to study and overcome difficulties in life.

Ms. Tan Ta May, Ta Ngao village, Bat Xat commune is a single mother raising 3 children of school age. With little land to cultivate, Ms. May has to do many jobs to take care of her children. Life is difficult and difficult all year round, many times Ms. May thought about letting her older child quit school to help with housework and take care of her younger siblings so that she could go to work. During the most difficult times, Ms. May was visited by officers of Bat Xat Border Guard Station to ask for their encouragement and analyze the pros and cons if children do not go to school to study and practice properly.

In order to help the family overcome difficulties, Bat Xat Border Guard Station provided food support and accepted Lo Mui Chay (Ms. May's child) to participate in the "Godmother" program. For the past 4 months, every month, Chay has received 500,000 VND in support. The meaningful support has partly helped the family ease their difficulties.

Philanthropists were able to meet and give gifts to children in the program.

Mr. Nguyen The Hiep, a retired cadre currently living in Hanoi, is one of the philanthropists supporting children in the "Godmother" program.

Together with other benefactors, Mr. Hiep went directly to Y Ty Border Guard Station and Bat Xat Border Guard Station to visit, encourage and give support to the children. Meeting and talking with the children and their families, Mr. Hiep and the benefactors could not hide their emotions.

He shared: Despite their difficult family circumstances, the children are all very well-behaved, polite, and determined to excel in their studies and life. We hope that the small monthly support gifts will give them strength and determination to continue going to school and pursue their dreams.

Giving gifts and financial support to children in Y Ty commune participating in the "Godmother" program.

The "Godmother" program has been jointly implemented by the Women's Union of Lao Cai Border Guard Command, Bat Xat Border Guard Station, and Y Ty Border Guard Station since 2024. Accordingly, the border guards have connected with benefactors inside and outside the province to sponsor and support students with especially difficult circumstances living in the border area.

Up to now, the "Godmother" program has supported 46 students in Y Ty and Bat Xat communes; the support level is 500,000 VND/child/month.

The support is committed by the benefactors until the children graduate from high school or college, university and connect and introduce jobs for the children later.

Lieutenant Colonel Pham Hong Thi - Political Commissar of Bat Xat Border Guard Station said: In order for the program to be implemented effectively, in line with the set goals, every month, border guard officers will directly give support funds to the children; closely coordinate with schools to monitor and encourage the children in the process of studying and training.

Information on the implementation of the model and the cases that have been helped are also regularly exchanged between the border guards and the benefactors. Depending on the actual conditions, the border guards organize direct meetings between the benefactors and the children receiving support in the program to talk, share and strengthen their love.

The "Godmother" program helps children in difficult circumstances to excel in life and study.

Along with the programs "Helping children go to school", "Adopted children of border guards", "Project of officers and soldiers helping children go to school" that have been effectively implemented by border guards on the Lao Cai border, the program "Godmother" has added a bridge of love, contributing to creating better conditions for students with especially difficult circumstances to go to school to study and practice for a bright, prosperous and happy future.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/me-do-dau-tiep-suc-xay-dung-tuong-lai-post885346.html