The "torchbearer" in the border region.

Major Cam Ba Thanh (right in the photo) and his teammates participate in the

Major Cam Ba Thanh (right in the photo) and his teammates participate in the "Breakfast for Children" program at Buoc Pat Kindergarten.

At Chiềng On Border Guard Station, Sơn La Provincial Border Guard Command, Major Cầm Bá Thành, Party Committee member, Deputy Political Officer, Secretary of the Administrative Control Party Branch, and Secretary of the Youth Union Branch, is a prime example of such a role model.

The young officer, of the Thai ethnic group, born in 1991 in Thanh Hoa, chose Son La as his place of residence. In his work, Major Cam Ba Thanh has always demonstrated the qualities of a political officer who is deeply involved with the grassroots, has a firm grasp of the local area, adheres to regulations, and successfully fulfills his assigned responsibilities. For many years, Comrade Thanh, together with the Party Committee of the Border Guard Post, has built a clean and strong Party organization, linked to building a comprehensively strong unit that is "exemplary and outstanding".

At the Administrative Control Party Branch, Comrade Thanh, along with the Party Committee, maintained orderly activities and strictly implemented the Party Charter… Besides internal duties, Major Cam Ba Thanh's greatest achievement is his work in social welfare. With his dynamic spirit and willingness to think outside the box and take action, he has become a "torchbearer" in the border region, connecting with many charitable organizations and individuals to bring sustainable projects to the community. Comrade Thanh coordinated with agencies and businesses to build a series of schools, classrooms, kitchens, clean water wells, loving classrooms, and playgrounds for children in many remote villages.

Many projects, ranging from hundreds of millions to billions of dong, have significantly improved learning conditions for students in border areas. Among these activities, the "Breakfast for Children" model, directly overseen by Comrade Thanh, is one of the most humane. Every day, border guards allocate their food rations to prepare breakfast for 13 preschool children in Buoc Pat village. In the "Helping Children Go to School - Children Adopted by Border Guard Posts" program, Comrade Thanh fosters six disadvantaged students, including one Laotian child; and monitors and supports 17 other students in the "Army Officers and Soldiers Helping Children Go to School" project.

For the people in the border region, Comrade Thanh is like a son of the village. Over the years, he and his colleagues have mobilized organizations and units to donate 25 solidarity houses and "Houses of Compassion"; provided 78 breeding cows and pigs; distributed nearly 5,000 gift packages; and provided free medical examinations and medicine to approximately 2,000 people. In addition, he has connected businesses inside and outside the province to implement social welfare programs totaling over 10 billion VND, a significant resource that has helped people in the border region improve their lives.

Lieutenant Colonel Vi Van Chuong, Deputy Head of Political Affairs, Son La Provincial Border Guard Command, said: "Not only focusing on immediate support, Comrade Thanh also prioritizes long-term models, such as: supporting livelihoods and agricultural product consumption; implementing the 'Nurturing Green Seeds of the Border - Steadfast Towards the Future' model, sponsoring 16 students until they graduate from university and college. He also coordinated the construction of a rural lighting system in four border villages with a length of 2.5 km, contributing to ensuring security and safety for the people."

Thanks to his consistent contributions, Major Cam Ba Thanh has been consistently rated as performing well and excellently in his duties for many years; he was awarded the title of "Outstanding Soldier at the grassroots level" in 2022 and 2024; and received numerous commendations from the Border Guard Command and the Son La Provincial Youth Union. Major Thanh is also one of 15 outstanding individuals nationwide honored at the "Honoring the Torchbearer" award ceremony.

Major Cam Ba Thanh shared: “Supporting the people in border areas is both a joy and a duty of a border guard soldier. The remote areas still face many difficulties, and I will continue to connect resources to help our compatriots even more.” Through concrete and practical actions, Major Cam Ba Thanh has become a reliable pillar of support for the people in border areas, a beautiful image of a soldier in green uniform in the new era, clearly demonstrating the role of someone who “ignites” love, responsibility, and faith in the frontier regions of the Fatherland.

Text and photos: QUOC TUAN, QUANG HUNG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/nguoi-truyen-lua-o-vung-bien-post929902.html