Small acts of kindness can spread and inspire a great movement of emulation.

During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh affirmed: "Competition is patriotism, and patriotism requires competition; those who compete are the most patriotic." His teachings have become the guiding ideology for patriotic emulation movements throughout the country. In Ca Mau, this spirit is concretized through real-life stories; through ordinary people who are rich in determination, responsibility, and a desire to contribute to building a more prosperous and compassionate homeland.

• Vigorous patriotic emulation movements
• Patriotic emulation - A driving force for comprehensive development.
• "Igniting the aspirations for development in all people - Elevating the patriotic emulation movement"

The wounded soldier rewrote his life with determination.

In Hamlet 1, Ly Van Lam Ward, Mr. Huynh Minh Thi is a familiar name to many local residents. This disabled veteran, classified as 1/4, bears an 81% disability, has lost part of his left leg, one eye is blind, and his body bears the scars of war. But what people remember him for is not his losses, but his unwavering will to live.

Born into poverty in the Đồng Khởi region of Bến Tre, and raised amidst hardship, he quickly became accustomed to adversity. In 1980, young Huỳnh Minh Thi enlisted in the army and served in the international mission in Cambodia. Returning after the war with a severely damaged body, he sometimes felt disheartened. But then, President Ho Chi Minh's teaching, " Wounded soldiers may be disabled, but they are not useless, " became his anchor, illuminating his soul and helping him to rise again.

Mr. Huynh Minh Thi (center) has always set a shining example in the activities of the local Veterans Association.

Every day, he travels dozens of kilometers to earn a living selling lottery tickets, carefully saving every penny to raise his three children to adulthood, ensuring they all have stable jobs. For him, it's not just about making a living, but also about preserving his self-respect as a soldier after the war.

Mr. Huynh Minh Thi confided: “When I went to the battlefield, I never thought I could survive to return. Being alive now is a blessing. Although my body is no longer intact, as long as I have the strength, I can still work. Every profession is valuable, as long as I earn a living through my own efforts and have a clear conscience. I always teach my children to constantly learn and improve themselves. I won't leave you a large inheritance; I only hope you appreciate your work and strive to succeed from the smallest things.”

Those simple words are imbued with the strength, self-respect, and unwavering character of a soldier who has weathered the bombs and bullets. Not pessimistic or dependent, he chose to live by his own hands, persistently upholding the qualities of a soldier of Uncle Ho's army amidst everyday life.

Mr. Chau Thanh Lap, Chairman of the Veterans Association of Ly Van Lam Ward, commented: "Comrade Huynh Minh Thi possesses a strong spirit of overcoming difficulties, lives responsibly, and is a beautiful example for many to learn from and emulate."

"I love my fellow countrymen!"

Mentioning Mr. Ngo Vu Dai, Vice Chairman of the Association for the Protection of Disabled People and Orphans in Ca Mau province, many people remember an association official who dedicated most of his life to supporting those less fortunate.

At the age of 70, he still tirelessly visits every small village and every disadvantaged person, especially within the Chinese community, people with disabilities, and seriously ill children. Each visit brings not only gifts or financial assistance, but also genuine concern and sharing, treating them like close family. He simply expressed: "I love my fellow countrymen; as long as I can still work, I will continue to go, mobilize, and help."

For over 30 years, he has persistently acted as a bridge, mobilizing resources to help the poor, build charity homes, support heart surgeries for children, and care for people with disabilities. Between 2019 and 2024 alone, he raised nearly 3 billion VND to support the community. Despite only running a small business, he still dedicates approximately 100 million VND of his personal funds each year to help those in need.

Mr. Ngo Vu Dai is accompanying and assisting Mr. Nguyen Van Nho, a disabled veteran (category 1/4), in earning a living by selling lottery tickets in Bac Lieu ward.

In their twilight years, Mr. Ta Thai Thoi (Hamlet 7, Bac Lieu Ward) struggles in his simple house, working as a hired driver while his wife suffers from a stroke and is unable to work. The hardships of old age, illness, and loneliness seemed to exhaust them further. But thanks to the support of Mr. Ngo Vu Dai, their family's difficulties have been somewhat alleviated.

"Mr. Dai has helped me a lot, not only financially but also regularly visiting to encourage and check on me. Thanks to him, my wife and I feel that we haven't been forgotten," Mr. Ta Thai Thoi said emotionally.

For many people in difficult circumstances, Mr. Ngo Vu Dai is not only a philanthropist but also a family member and a source of emotional support. What is most admirable about him is that he does good deeds with all his heart and builds trust through his practical actions.

Despite having traveled to Hanoi more than 30 times to receive commendations and prestigious awards, the most valuable thing for Mr. Dai is still having enough health to continue supporting those in difficult circumstances.

The power of a large movement

In Tan Cong hamlet (Bien Bach commune), the patriotic emulation movement is manifested in clean and beautiful rural roads, lush green hedges, and routes vibrant with colorful flowers.

For many years, Mr. Tran Van Lum, Mr. Le Minh Con, and many other households here have actively beautified the alleyways, planted trees, tended to flowers along the roadside, contributed to building embankments, and preserved the landscape. These are small tasks, but done regularly and consistently. As a result, the 1.2 km long Canal 7 road has become a highlight of the locality, winning the A prize at the "Beautiful Road" competition in 2025. The greatest value lies in the transformation of community awareness; people understand that patriotic emulation and building their homeland is not the responsibility of any one person, but begins with each family and each specific task.

Mr. Le Minh Con, from Tan Cong hamlet (far left), is delighted to contribute to beautifying the green, clean, and beautiful landscape of his village.

According to Comrade Ho Trung Viet, Standing Committee member of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Provincial Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department, the depth of the patriotic emulation movement lies not in its form or slogans, but in the ordinary people in their daily lives.

Each individual must strive to improve themselves and surpass their own limitations; each agency and unit must compete together. Patriotic emulation is only truly sustainable when it becomes a self-awareness, when each individual and collective clearly recognizes their responsibility to their family, community, and homeland. It is these concrete and practical actions from the grassroots level that create the most solid foundation for long-term development.

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Comrade Ho Trung Viet, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee,

The Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department emphasized this point.

The experience in Ca Mau has proven this. Major movements such as: "Ca Mau joins forces to build new rural areas," "For the poor - Leaving no one behind," "The whole country joins hands to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses"... have been widely implemented, creating a strong ripple effect throughout the province. From urban to rural areas, from officials and Party members to individual households, patriotic emulation is increasingly going deeper, linked to specific development tasks. Thousands of billions of dong have been mobilized for social welfare programs, sustainable poverty reduction, new rural construction, and care for ethnic minority communities; tens of thousands of houses have been built for poor households and policy beneficiary families; thousands of successful models of mass mobilization and advanced examples continue to be replicated in many fields.

The patriotic emulation movement has spread widely through activities honoring the origins of the nation. (In the photo: Veterans, Youth Union members, and students visiting the Hanoi Flagpole in Dat Mui commune). Photo: NHAT MINH

The clear results show that the patriotic emulation movement in Ca Mau is no longer limited to temporary campaigns, but has become a driving force for social development, arousing the spirit of self-reliance, solidarity, and responsibility among the people.

These are images of wounded soldiers refusing to surrender to fate, of association officials wholeheartedly supporting the vulnerable, and of farmers with muddy hands silently beautifying the country roads... Through these acts of kindness in their daily lives, they are together writing the most enduring values ​​of the patriotic emulation movement.

Trinh Hong Nhi

Source: https://baocamau.vn/su-tu-te-nho-lan-toa-phong-trao-thi-dua-lon-a128547.html