The poorest girl in the neighborhood wants to go to university to change her destiny.

Performed by: HA DONG - NHA CHAN - DIEM HUONG

When Nguyen Thi Dinh received her acceptance letter to the auditing program at the Hanoi University of Economics and Technology, it felt like a dream.

The future is dim in my mother's eyes.

Photo: HA DONG

For her peers, going to school is normal. But for Dinh, a young girl in desperate need of support to attend school, the journey to acquire literacy is fraught with difficulties. Dinh and her mother have lived with her grandmother since she was born in a makeshift house measuring only 20 square ^meters .

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Cu, 55 years old - Dinh's mother - had been ill for many years, toiling year-round on her 5 acres of rice fields and a small garden in her hometown, saving every penny to pay for Dinh's education. In 2017, Dinh's maternal grandmother passed away. Mrs. Cu's eyesight gradually deteriorated, and a hospital examination revealed she had retinal detachment, cataracts, and inflammation in both eyes.

The money the mother and son had saved for years for Dinh's high school and university education was spent on eye medication for the next two years. By the time the family was destitute, Mrs. Cu's eyesight had deteriorated with age, and her illness continued.

Every time Định saw his mother staggering in the dim light, as if about to fall, tears would well up in his eyes, filled with bewilderment and worry.

In 10th grade, I helped out at a shop to earn money.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Cu advises and encourages her daughter before she starts school - Photo: Ha Dong

Out of love for his elderly and frail mother, every summer during his three years at Chu Van An High School in Sam Son City, Dinh would ask to work part-time helping sell breakfast at his cousin's shop in the Sam Son beach tourist area.

The money her cousin paid her each month, Dinh cherished and carefully gave to her mother to pay for medicine. Those were the days when she valued her labor and time spent working to earn money to help her mother.

After the summer tourist season ends, Dinh and her mother work on 5 acres of rice paddies and tend to the vegetable garden so that her mother can sell the produce to earn money for her education.

Out of compassion for Dinh and her mother, who lived in poverty and loneliness, the neighbors in Phuc Cuong neighborhood often shared and provided support. Whenever a family bought a new set of tables and chairs or a new cupboard, they would bring their old set to Dinh and her mother to use.

"The tables, chairs, wooden cabinets, and some other essential household items in my family were all gifts from relatives and friends in the neighborhood. What's old to one person is new to another; as long as we clean them, they're still perfectly usable," shared Mrs. Nguyen Thi Cu.

Supporting students to attend school: Borrow 10 million VND to go to university.

Nguyen Thi Dinh was familiar with farm work from a young age - Photo: HA DONG

While some of her peers in her hometown, after finishing high school, chose to go abroad for work or become factory workers in Thanh Hoa City, Nguyen Thi Dinh was determined to study auditing at the Hanoi University of Economics and Technology, with a total admission score of 24 points.

Poverty and difficult family circumstances could not subdue the will to succeed in life and studies of this petite girl with intelligent and quick-witted eyes.

Mr. Nguyen Phu Lam, Dinh's homeroom teacher at Chu Van An High School in Sam Son City, said: "Dinh's family circumstances are very difficult, so the teachers at the school always help him with his studies. The teachers wish him continued confidence in university, to overcome all difficulties and reach the horizons of knowledge."

Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen Huu Hoan, Secretary of the Party Committee of Quang Tam Ward, Thanh Hoa City, confirmed that the family of Ms. Nguyen Thi Cu in Phuc Cuong neighborhood is one of the most disadvantaged families in the ward.

Despite her difficult circumstances, Mrs. Cử always prioritized her daughter's education. Nguyễn Thị Định is a good citizen and actively and enthusiastically participates in local youth union activities.

"The day I told my mother I got into university, tears welled up in her eyes. She was so happy because her daughter was determined to study to escape poverty. But she was also worried about where she would find the money to support my university education."

The government subsidy of 360,000 VND per month for single mothers raising children, which my mother had saved for many years, along with the meager income from her 5 acres of rice fields and vegetable garden, was suddenly spent on her eye treatment.

"Many nights my mother tossed and turned, unable to sleep, worried about not having enough money to support her child's dream of going to university," Nguyen Thi Dinh confided.

Before her daughter started school, Mrs. Cử decided to borrow 10 million dong from the bank so that her daughter would have money to pay for the initial school year fees.

Nguyen Thi Dinh overcame difficult circumstances and is continuing to pursue her dreams at university - Photo: Ha Dong

"As long as I'm healthy, I can still work in the fields and gardens. That way, I can still provide for my daughter. Next time, I'll apply for a loan from the Social Policy Bank under the poverty alleviation program to help Dinh cover her university expenses," she said.

We invite you to join us in supporting students to attend school.

The Tuoi Tre newspaper's "Supporting Students to School 2024" program, launched on August 8th, is expected to award 1,100 scholarships with a total budget of over 20 billion VND (15 million VND for disadvantaged new students, 20 special scholarships worth 50 million VND each for the entire 4 years of study, plus learning equipment and gifts...).

With the motto "No young person should be prevented from attending university because of poverty," and "If new students face difficulties, Tuoi Tre is there for them" - this is a commitment to supporting new students throughout Tuoi Tre 's 20-year journey.

The program received contributions and support from the "Farmers' Companion" Fund - Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company, the Vinacam Scholarship Fund - Vinacam Group Joint Stock Company, and the "Quang Tri Solidarity" and "Phu Yen Solidarity" clubs; the "Supporting Students to School" clubs in Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam - Da Nang, Tien Giang - Ben Tre, Quang Ngai, and the Tien Giang - Ben Tre Business Association in Ho Chi Minh City, the German-Vietnamese Mutual Assistance and Cooperation Association (VSW), Nam Long Company, Nestlé Vietnam Co., Ltd., and other businesses, philanthropists, and numerous readers of Tuoi Tre newspaper.

Businesses and readers who wish to support scholarships for new students are kindly requested to transfer their donations to the Tuoi Tre newspaper's account:

113000006100 VietinBank (Vietnam Industrial and Commercial Bank), Branch 3, Ho Chi Minh City.

Content: Support the "Helping Students Go to School" program for new university students, or specify the province/city you wish to support.

Readers and businesses abroad can transfer funds to Tuoi Tre newspaper:

USD account 007.137.0195.845, Foreign Trade Bank of Ho Chi Minh City;

EUR account 007.114.0373.054 Vietcombank Ho Chi Minh City

with Swift code BFTVVNVX007.

Content: Support the "Helping Students Go to School" program for new university students, or specify the province/city you wish to support.

In addition to providing scholarships, readers can also support new students with learning equipment, accommodation, job opportunities, and more.

Graphics: TUAN ANH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nu-sinh-ngheo-nhat-khu-pho-muon-hoc-dai-hoc-thay-doi-so-phan-20240930213317205.htm