The opening ceremony of the 2024-2025 school year for students at the Trung Ly commune inter-school complex.
Major Nguyen Van Thien, Political Officer of Trung Ly Border Guard Station, shared: "When Phanh was brought home, a bamboo stake had pierced through her leg. The lack of treatment for so long led to the risk of necrosis; a slight delay would have meant amputation. Knowing the situation, the unit immediately took her to Thanh Hoa Children's Hospital for emergency surgery. Phanh was born in 2012, lost her father when she was 4 years old, and her mother left to remarry not long after."
One might have thought that, given his difficult circumstances, the boy would never be able to go to school like his peers. But a miracle happened. Knowing his plight, the officers and soldiers of the Trung Ly Border Guard Post took him in as their adopted son, caring for him with the love and affection of soldiers. Because he felt the love and care of the border guards, Phanh became very well-behaved. From being shy and unfamiliar, the border guard post has now become a familiar and close place for him.
"Entering the new school year, the unit has purchased bicycles, prepared books, school supplies, school uniforms, clothes, shoes, and school bags to fully support her studies. In addition, throughout the past summer months, the unit has assigned officers to tutor Phanh in reviewing knowledge so that she can absorb new knowledge more quickly when entering the new school year," Major Nguyen Van Thien added.
Adhering to the guiding principle: "The outpost is our home, the border is our homeland, and the ethnic minorities are our brothers and sisters," with affection and responsibility, the Thanh Hoa Border Guard has supported and encouraged the children of border communities to overcome difficulties and confidently pursue their education. The "Helping Children Go to School" program and the "Adopted Children of Border Guard Posts" model have supported 106 students (including 11 students from Laos) with 500,000 VND per child per month; and maintained support for 8 students with particularly difficult circumstances, enabling them to continue their studies at 6 border guard posts.
In the border region, children who were once struggling and facing the risk of dropping out of school now have a new lease on life. For Giàng A Dơ, from Ón village, Tam Chung commune, going to school every day is perhaps the greatest joy right now. Both his parents are in prison due to drug-related offenses. Giàng A Dơ currently lives with his elderly grandparents, who are too weak to care for him, so he lives a nomadic life, moving from one house to another. Relatives take turns raising him. What scares Dơ the most is not knowing when his education will have to stop.
Understanding the difficulties faced by students in remote border areas, the "Together We Raise Children in Muong Lat" project was launched in September 2022, creating a bridge for 831 students in 15 schools to receive support of 150,000 VND/month/student from their "foster parents". The project is funded by the Ho Chi Minh City Banking Sector Youth Union along with businesses and philanthropists.
As one of the first schools where the project was implemented, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Deputy Principal of Tam Chung Primary School, was deeply moved by the benefits the project has brought. According to Mr. Hung, Tam Chung Primary School has a total of 7 school locations. The furthest location is On village, more than 20km from the commune center, with 100% of the students being from the Mong ethnic group. Now, every day at school is a joyful day for the children thanks to the "Together We Raise Children in Muong Lat" project.
Although the journey of education in this remote border region remains fraught with difficulties, with the joint efforts of the government, the people, and the community, the students here will continue to attend school, cherishing their dreams of a brighter future.
Text and photos: Hoang Lan
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/tham-lang-uom-mam-xanh-bien-gioi-260582.htm
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