Community life from the grassroots

From cultural and sports activities to grassroots political tasks, many cultural centers throughout the province are gradually being "awakened" and becoming spaces for community cohesion, where cultural values ​​converge and spread, starting with the proactive and positive participation of the people.

Residents of Mo 1 village, Xuan Du commune, participate in the Set Booc May festival at the village's cultural center.

At the Nghia Lap village cultural center (Hoang Chau commune), the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year seems to linger until the end of March. From the 8th day of the first lunar month, the cultural center's courtyard was bustling with cultural and artistic activities. In the afternoons, sports and physical activities took place continuously and enthusiastically, attracting a large number of participants. Inside the hall, the village's performing arts group continued to practice, preparing for cultural exchanges and programs at village and commune events. These "homegrown" performances created a beneficial platform for people to showcase their talents and strengthen community bonds. Significantly, these activities are not limited to just a few days during Tet (Lunar New Year), but are maintained regularly, becoming a familiar part of the community life.

Mr. Nguyen Van Khanh, Secretary of the Nghia Lap village Party branch, said: “The community center is a place where all the villagers gather. Therefore, the village proactively maintains regular cultural and sports activities, while also effectively promoting and implementing political tasks, so that people can both participate in activities and stay fully informed.”

Not only Nghia Lap village, but all 30 village cultural centers in Hoang Chau commune have been "revived". This has created a vibrant and cohesive atmosphere within the community.

At the Mó 1 village cultural center (Xuân Du commune), the villagers have maintained a regular rhythm of activities since the Lunar New Year. The highlight is the Sết Boóc Mạy festival – one of the unique traditional festivals of the locality. Before the festival, the villagers gathered at the cultural center to clean and decorate, warming up a corner of the village and signaling an exciting festival season. The elderly meticulously prepared offerings and decorated flower arrangements; the youth set up the stage and hung flags; and the women practiced their performances. Everyone had a task, but all shared a common spirit: preserving and continuing the cultural values ​​of the community. Therefore, the cultural center is not just a meeting place but truly becomes the "heart" of the village, connecting generations, arousing pride, and fostering a sense of preserving tradition.

Ms. Quách Thị Quyên, a resident of Mó 1 village, shared: “Every time there’s a festival, the villagers gather at the community center to prepare together. Everyone has their part to do, so it’s both fun and makes us feel more connected. Our children also learn more about the customs of our homeland through this.”

Not only bustling during traditional festivals, the Mó 1 village cultural center also maintains a vibrant atmosphere through sports activities, cultural exchanges, and is a familiar destination for disseminating information and implementing local political tasks.

Mr. Le Viet Huong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Xuan Du commune, said: "100% of the village cultural houses in the commune are used as community centers. Activities take place continuously, linked to daily life and political tasks, contributing to raising awareness and creating consensus among the people."

In Thanh Hoa province, there are nearly 4,300 cultural centers and sports facilities in villages, hamlets, and neighborhoods. The majority of these centers have effectively fulfilled their roles and functions, maintaining community activities, preserving traditional values, and serving as a bridge to bring policies and guidelines closer to the people. This shows that the effectiveness of cultural centers stems not only from investment in infrastructure or the organization of cultural and sports activities, but also from the combination of the government's guidance and the active and voluntary participation of the people. When these two factors meet, the cultural center not only "has enough lights," but truly becomes a pillar of community life.

Text and photos: Thùy Linh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/nhip-song-cong-dong-tu-co-so-282761.htm